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THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

PRESENTED  BY 

PROF.  CHARLES  A.  KOFOID  AND 
MRS.  PRUDENCE  W.  KOFOID 


m 


I 


HORSE-BREEDING 


RECOLLECTIONS 


BY 


G.  ^LEHNDORFF. 


PHILADELPHIA : 
PORTER    &    COATES 

1887. 


l-7 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

PAGK 

GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS 7 


CHAPTER  II. 
IN-BREEDING—OUT-CROSSING .44 


NOTES 

ON 

BREEDING  RACEHORSES. 


CHAPTER    I. 
GENEEAL  OBSERVATIONS. 

THE  principal  requisite  in  a  good  racehorse  is  soundness, 
again  soundness,  and  nothing  but  soundness;  and  the  object 
of  the  thoroughbred  is  to  imbue  the  limbs,  the  constitution, 
and  the  nerves  of  the  half-bred  horse  with  that  essential 
quality,  and  thereby  enhance  its  capabilities. 

The  thoroughbred  can,  however,  fulfil  its  mission  only  pro- 
vided the  yearly  produce  be  continually  subjected  to  severe 
trials  in  public.  The  only  appropriate  test,  proved  by  the 
experience  of  two  centuries,  is  the  racecourse,  although  its 
adversaries  oppose  it  as  too  one-sided,  and  propose  in  its 
stead  others  of  more  or  less  impracticability.  The  last  strug- 
gle for  victory,  in  which  culminates  the  exertion  of  the  race, 
results  from  the  co-operation  of  the  intellectual,  the  physical, 
and  the  mechanical  qualities  of  the  horse,  the  development  of 
which  combined  power  is  higher  and  more  reliable  than  any 
that  can  be  obtained  in  the  same  animal  by  other  means.  The 
combination  of  those  three  qualities  forms  the  value  of  the 
horse  destined  for  fast  work :  the  mechanical,  in  respect  to 
the  outward  shape  and  construction ;  the  physical,  as  regards 
the  soundness  and  normal  development  of  the  digestive  organs 
and  motive  power ;  the  intellectual,  or  the  will  and  the  energy 
to  put  the  other  two  into  motion  and  persevere  to  the  utmost. 
The  attained  speed  is  not  the  aim,  but  only  the  gauge,  of  the 
performance. 

7 


8  NOTES   ON   BREEDING    RACEHORSES. 

The  grand  ideal  principle  which  places  this  test  so  incom- 
parably higher  than  any  other  based  upon  the  individual 
opinion  of  one  or  more  judges  is  the  absolute  and  blind 
justice,  personified  in  the  inflexible  winning-post,  which  alone 
decides  on  the  racecourse,  and  the  irrefutable  certainty  that 
neither  fashion  nor  fancy,  neither  favor  nor  hatred,  neither 
personal  prejudice  nor  time-serving — frequently  observable  in 
the  awards  at  horse-shows — has  biassed  the  decision  of  hotly- 
contested  struggles  as  recorded  in  the  Racing  Calendar  for  the 
space  of  one  hundred  and  seventy  years.  This  it  is  that  gives 
to  the  English  thoroughbred  horse  a  value  for  breeding  pur- 
poses unequalled  and  looked  for  in  vain  in  any  other  species 
of  animal  creation. 

I  apprehend  great  danger  from  the  endeavor  to  improve 
horse-racing — like  any  other  human  institution,  not  without 
its  shortcomings — by  corrective  measures,  which  might  inter- 
fere with  that  principle  of  blind  justice ;  its  fundamental  laws 
would  thereby  become  undermined,  and  the  building,  which  it 
took  centuries  to  erect,  fall  to  ruins. 

Nothing  but  the  framing  of  the  racing  propositions  ought  to 
serve  as  indicator  of  what  is  required  of  the  thoroughbred ; 
every  state  in  need  of  an  efficient  cavalry  should  be  careful 
how  to  place  authority  for  that  purpose  in  experienced  hands, 
and  see  it  used  leniently,  but  on  clearly-established  principles. 
As  for  the  rest,  it  should  be  left  to  the  immutable  laws  of 
Nature  to  gradually  mould,  in  outward  form  and  inward  com- 
position, that  horse  which  best  answers  those  requirements. 

The  centre  of  gravity  in  all  trials  of  strength  and  endurance 
is  to  be  found  on  the  racecourse :  the  straighter  the  running- 
track  the  more  infallible  the  result ;  the  longer  and  steeper  the 
gradient  the  severer  the  test. 

As  to  the  distances  to  be  run  over,  I  would  recommend  for 
three-year-olds  and  upwards  from  one  mile  to  two  miles  at  the 
scale  of  weights  adopted  in  the  rules  of  racing  at  present  in 
force  in  Prussia,  which  is  about  ten  pounds  above  English 
weights. 

Two-year-olds  should — due  regard  being  had  to  the  time  of 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS. 

year  and  the  state  of  the  ground — never  run  less  than  four  and 
a  half  nor  more  than  seven  furlongs ;  shorter  races  ruin  their 
temper  more  than  those  over  longer  distances,  in  which  the 
pace  from  the  beginning  is  not  so  severe  nor  the  start  of  so 
much  consequence. 

Whoever  has  had  frequent  opportunities  for  observing  in  a 
racing-stable  the  development  of  two-year-old  horses  will,  as 
a  rule,  have  noticed  an  evident  change  about  the  middle  of 
summer.  They  quite  suddenly  lose  their  foal-like  appearance 
and  become  young  horses.  In  general  this  alteration  takes 
place  at  the  same  time  as  the  shedding  of  the  two  middle  teeth ; 
all  at  once  the  youngsters  are  better  able  to  resist  the  wear  and 
tear  of  training  and  improve  as  the  work  agrees  with  them. 
Of  course  this  change  does  not  occur  simultaneously  in  all  two- 
year-olds,  although  they  may  be  equally  well  reared ;  neverthe- 
less I  have  noticed  at  this  period  a  greater  degree  of  evenness 
in  the  development  of  late  and  earlier  foals  than  seemed  war- 
ranted, considering  the  difference  in  their  respective  ages. 

As,  however,  at  midsummer  the  ground  frequently  is  too 
hard  to  admit  of  good  work  being  done  with  two-y ear-olds 
without  danger  to  their  legs,  I  would  advocate  that  the  princi- 
pal races  for  horses  of  that  age  should  not  take  place  before  the 
autumn,  when  owners  who  have  judiciously  saved  their  young 
animals  during  the  summer  may  indemnify  themselves  through 
richer  prizes  than  were  offered  for  competition  in  the  earlier 
part  of  the  season. 

In  principle  I  do  not  disapprove  of  running  two-year-olds ; 
on  the  contrary,  I  take  it,  if  done  in  moderation,  to  be  an  un- 
erring means  to  ascertain  the  soundness  of  the  constitution. 
From  midsummer — say  first  of  August — I  look  upon  such 
races,  according  to  the  degree  of  development  in  the  individual 
horses,  as  useful ;  care  must,  however,  be  taken  not  to  overdo 
it,  especially  with  fillies,  whose  temper  is  more  excitable  than 
that  of  colts.  I  have  generally  noticed  that  mares  which  cred- 
itably stood  the  test  of  two-year-old  training  also  proved  them- 
selves superior  at  the  stud.  Taking,  for  instance,  the  most  suc- 
cessful brood-mares  during  the  twenty  years  from  1860  to  1879, 


10         NOTES  ON  BREEDING  RACEHORSES. 

— that  is  to  say,  the  dams  of  the  winners  of  the  four  classic 
races,  Two  Thousand  Guineas,  Derby,  Oaks,  and  Leger,  of 
that  period — we  find,  upon  examination  of  their  earlier  career, 
that  of  those  eighty,  or  rather  eighty-two,  mares — two  races 
resulted  in  dead  heats,  which  were  not  run  off— only  thirty  did 
not  run  as  two-year-olds.  That  early  ripeness  in  a  racehorse 
may  be  regarded  as  a  proof  of  health,  even  with  regard  to  later 
usefulness  at  the  stud,  is  further  corroborated  by  Little  Lady, 
the  dam  of  the  Two  Thousand  Guineas  winner,  Camballo,  hav- 
ing carried  off  the  Anglesey  stakes  for  yearlings  at  Shrewsbury 
in  1859 — the  only  race  of  the  sort  ever  run.  I  mention  this 
circumstance,  however,  by  no  means  in  support  of  yearlings' 
races ;  on  the  contrary,  I  look  upon  them  as  senseless  institu- 
tions, which,  fortunately,  twenty  years  ago  were  abolished  in 
England,  the  only  country  where  they  ever  existed. 

The  severe  training  and  repeated  trials  of  yearlings,  more- 
over, I  take  to  be  dangerous  in  Germany,  where  the  winter 
generally  sets  in  and  puts  a  stop  to  all  training  operations 
about  the  middle  of  November.  In  England,  and  especially  in 
France,  where,  as  a  rule,  yearlings  can  be  tried  about  Christ- 
mas-time, it  may  be  done  without  detriment  to  their  health ; 
the  more  so,  as  in  those  favored  climates  their  development  is 
less  retarded  by  the  cold,  and  young  horses  acquire  earlier  than 
in  Germany  the  power  which  is  necessary  to  bear  the  strain  of 
training. 

I  consider  the  test  by  hurdle-racing,  and  especially  by  steeple- 
chasing,  rather  one  of  acquired  cleverness  than  of  consequence 
for  breeding.  The  principal  race  across  country  in  England, 
the  Liverpool  Grand  National,  has  repeatedly  been  won  (for 
instance,  in  1863  by  Emblem,  and  in  the  following  year  by  her 
own  sister,  Emblematic,  by  Teddington  out  of  Miss  Batty)  by 
animals  not  possessed  of  sufficient  staying  power  to  run  a  mile 
creditably  in  even  moderate  company.  This  applies  more  par- 
ticularly to  the  younger  sister,  Emblematic.  It  is  not  so  much 
length  of  distance  that  constitutes  a  criterion  of  endurance  as 
the  pace  at  which  it  is  run.  In  a  steeplechase  this  is  generally 
so  slow  that  a  horse  able  to  race  half  a  mile  is  never  for  a  mo- 


GENERAL,   OBSERVATIONS.  11 

ment  extended  ;  if  with  such  speed  he  combines  a  quiet  temper, 
so  as  not  to  take  more  out  of  himself  than  is  required  by  his 
rider,  he  may,  in  an  ordinary  race  of  that  description,  gallop 
a  long  time  without  being  distressed,  and,  having  thus  hus- 
banded his  strength,  have  sufficient  left  in  him  to  enable  him 
to  win  the  race. 

Jumping  is  more  a  question  of  agility  than  of  power,  except 
in  young  and  unpractised  horses,  that  tire  more  through  their 
awkwardness  in  leaping  than  through  galloping;  schooled 
chasers,  however,  are  required  to  put  forth  additional  energy 
only  when  the  race  is  run  at  an  inconveniently  fast  pace  diffi- 
cult for  them  to  continue. 

To  the  practised  jumper,  on  the  contrary,  the  leap  over  a 
fence  of  not  extraordinary  proportions,  if  taken  at  a  moderate 
pace,  rather  affords  him  time  to  recover  his  breath  than  causes 
the  waste  of  additional  strength.  Since  the  speedier  horse 
jumps  at  a  slower  pace  than  the  slower  stayer  in  proportion 
to  their  respective  degrees  of  speed,  the  former,  equal  cleverness 
in  jumping  taken  for  granted,  must  necessarily  consume  less 
strength  than  the  latter. 

The  steeplechase  course,  therefore,  favors,  cceteris  paribus,  the 
speedy  horse  as  compared  to  the  slower  stayer,  and  practice 
daily  shows  us  instances  of  horses  that  as  non-stayers  were  use- 
less on  the  flat  become  successful  chasers,  and,  vice  versd,  stayers 
on  the  flat  which  over  a  country  fail  to  gain  distinction. 

Intending  regenerators  of  racing  on  what  they  consider  more 
rational  principles,  therefore,  show  a  lamentable  ignorance  of 
the  nature  of  the  horse  when  advocating  the  adoption  of  the 
steeplechase  as  the  test  by  which  to  gauge  the  capabilities  of 
the  thoroughbred,  and  would,  if  they  succeeded  in  their  en- 
deavors, attain  only  the  exact  reverse  of  what  they  aim  at. 
I  would  recommend  those  who  still  insist  that  steeplechasing 
is  more  reliable  than  racing  on  the  flat  for  the  purpose  of 
ascertaining  power  and  soundness  in  a  horse  to  look  round  the 
large  steeplechase  establishments  in  England,  France,  or  even 
Germany,  and  examine  the  legs  of  the  horses  kept  for  that 
kind  of  work.  The  numerous  patched-up  screws  that  run  and 


12  NOTES   ON   BREEDING   RACEHOESES. 

win  races  year  after  year  would  not  stand  for  a  month  the 
preparation  for  a  flat  race,  much  less  the  race  itself;  and, 
finally,  as  to  the  excellence  at  the  stud  of  stallions  celebrated 
as  steeplechasers,  experience  teaches  that  none  such  exist  who 
subsequently  made  a  name  as  sires  of  racehorses,  whereas  stal- 
lions that  on  the  turf  belonged  to  the  first  class  frequently  sired 
superior  chasers.  As  a  touchstone  for  mares  intended  for 
breeding  purposes,  steeplechasing,  independent  of  other  con- 
siderations, is  unsuitable,  inasmuch  as  horses  are  qualified  for 
such  work  at  a  more  advanced  age  only.  Whereas,  therefore, 
the  brood-mare  is  kept  from  her  vocation  longer  than  is  desira- 
ble in  the  interest  of  breeding,  her  fitness  as  a  matron  suffers 
proportionately  by  long-protracted  training. 

As  far  as  I  know,  there  is  in  the  whole  stud  book  not  a  single 
steeplechase  mare  that  has  made  for  herself  a  great  name  as  the 
dam  of  winners  on  the  flat. 

A  cardinal  point,  which  continually  maintains  and  regener- 
ates the  thoroughbred  as  a  source  of  power  and  soundness,  and 
places  it,  with  regard  to  certainty  of  propagation,  far  above  all 
other  breeds  of  the  equine  race,  is  the  circumstance  that  the 
thoroughbred  is  tried  before  it  is  sent  to  the  stud,  whereas  of 
the  half-bred  such  individuals  only  as  are  unfit  for  breeding 
purposes  are  put  to  the  test.  Half-breds  at  the  stud,  more 
especially  stallions,  from  the  day  they  are  foaled  to  that  of 
their  death,  lead  an  existence  of  sluggish  idleness,  generation 
after  generation,  without  interruption.  However  useful  cart- 
mares  may  be  in  the  plough  or  other  kind  of  slow  work,  a  half- 
bred  brood-mare  is  never  subjected  to  a  real  trial  of  her  capa- 
bilities, and,  as  an  extremely  rare  occurrence,  such  a  mare 
returns  to  the  stud  on  account  of  an  excellence  accidentally 
brought  to  light ;  but  if,  however,  done  so,  it  will  probably  be 
too  late  for  any  use  for  breeding. 

What  would  become  of  the  usefulness  of  our  half-breds,  what 
of  our  cavalry,  without  a  continuance  of  crosses  with  stallions 
of  pure  blood,  bred  for  stoutness  and  chosen  on  account  of  their 
proper  excellent  qualities,  so  as  to  constantly  renew  the  neces- 
sary steel  in  the  breed? 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  13 

The  thoroughbred  is  in  a  much  lesser  degree  the  produce  of 
any  particular  locality  than  the  cart-horse  or  even  the  half- 
bred  ;  it  is  rather  one  of  an  artificial  nature,  better  able  to 
withstand  external  influences,  and  capable  of  being  trans- 
planted to  all  parts  of  the  globe  and  continued  without  es- 
sential deterioration  as  long  as  the  elementary  principle  is  not 
lost  sight  of— that  is  to  say,  as  long  as  its  capabilities  are  tried 
in  public,  and  as  long  as  the  best-tried  animals  are  in  prefer- 
ence used  for  reproduction.  The  thoroughbred  stands  to  the 
half-bred  in  the  same  position  as  the  plantation  tree  to  the  wild 
tree  of  the  forest :  the  former  thrives  in  any  locality  where  trees 
grow ;  the  latter  feels  at  home  only  where  it  first  struck  root, 
for,  having  never  been  transplanted,  it  wants  those  fibres  by 
means  of  which  to  take  hold  of  and  draw  sustenance  from  the 
new  soil. 

I  do  not,  however,  mean  to  say  that  thoroughbred  mares  are 
in  no  way  influenced  by  translocation  to  other  countries  and 
climates ;  on  the  contrary,  I  am  of  opinion  that  greater  safety 
will  be  insured  by  breeding  from  mares  bred  at  home  than 
from  imported  ones.  I  merely  assert  that  in  the  thoroughbred 
the  power  of  resistance  to  local  and  climatic  influences  is  in- 
finitely higher  than  in  the  half-bred,  etc. 

For  this  reason  the  establishment  of  a  stud  for  thoroughbreds 
in  Germany  is  less  difficult  than  one  intended  for  the  baser 
breed,  provided  the  locality  be  adapted  to  the  purpose  and  the 
requisite  means  available.  I  do  not  mean  to  say  that  faultless 
brood-mares  of  the  first  class  are  easily  obtainable  in  England  ; 
but  since  the  price  of  such  mares  is  eventually  almost  unlimited 
in  comparison  to  what  half-bred  brood-mares  will  command  in 
the  market,  and  as,  in  numerous  instances,  owners  of  eminent 
mares  which  did  them  good  service  on  the  turf  prefer  breeding 
from  them  in  public  establishments  to  selling  them  to  the  more 
extensive  breeder,  in  England  the  fluctuation  in  the  thorough- 
bred material  is  influenced  in  a  higher  degree  by  the  change  of 
circumstances  than  that  in  our  half-breds.  The  chances  of  a 
foreigner  making  a  favorable  investment,  therefore,  rise  in  pro- 
portion, provided  he  is  at  home  in  the  Racing  Calendar,  the 


14  NOTES   ON  BREEDING   RACEHORSES. 

Stud  Book,  and  last,  but  not  least,  the  personal  concerns  of 
English  breeders. 

This  brings  us  to  the  practical  question,  What  must  be  the 
aim  of  the  breeder  in  the  selection  of  brood-mares ;  or,  as  ap- 
plied to  us,  what  principles  must  guide  us  in  the  importation  of 
brood-mares  from  England  or  France,  or  when  choosing  from 
those  bred  at  home  ? 

I  believe,  if  strictly  adhered  to,  the  following  hints  may  be 
depended  on  as  offering  the  greatest  amount  of  safety  in  the 
choice  of  brood-mares : — 

1.  To  buy,  without  exception,  mares  from  the  best  strains  of 
blood  only,  more  regard  being  had  to  the  dam  even  than  to  the 
sire. 

2.  To  bear  in  mind  that  a  good  pedigree  alone  is  not  suf- 
ficient, because  the  best-bred  mare  may  be  unsound  (I  thought 
that  by  the  acquisition  of  the  own  sisters  to  Gladiateur  and 
Vermout,  although  neither  had  done  anything  remarkable  on 
the  turf,  I  had  made  sure  of  an  enormous  success ;  but  both 
turned  out  unsound  and  worthless  at  the  stud) ;  to  be,  there- 
fore, particular  to  buy  from  the  best  strains  of  blood  such 
mares  only  as  have 

(a)  Themselves  exhibited  some  form  on  the  turf,  and  only 
on  account  of  insufficient  age  not  yet  been  tried  at  the 
stud,  or  have 

(6)  Already  bred  winners,  and  thereby  proved  themselves 
sound  dams  and  fit  to  propagate  the  excellent  qualities 
of  their  respective  families. 

As  a  matter  of  course,  of  the  mares  coming  within  the  limits 
of  the  foregoing  conditions  the  most  powerful  and  truthfully 
made  will  be  preferred ;  but  no  consideration  of  the  exterior, 
however  prepossessing  it  may  be,  if  not  accompanied  by  those 
requisite  attributes,  should  be  allowed  to  prevail — for  there  is 
no  more  baneful,  no  more  certain,  hereditary  evil  than  un- 
soundness — especially  rheumatic  or  scrofulous  disorders. 

I  am  well  aware  that  with  regard  to  No.  2,  and  especially 
subdivision  (a),  I  shall  meet  with  vehement  opposition,  and 
that  a  number  of  instances  to  the  contrary  will  be  cited.  They 


GENERAL   OBSERVATIONS.  15 

are  not  unknown  to  me,  but  I  adhere  to  my  opinion  for  the 
following  reasons: 

When  I  require  in  a  young  mare  intended  for  stud  purposes 
individual  performances,  I  do  not  mean  to  say  that  I  would  not 
buy  one  that  had  not,  on  a  given  number  of  occasions,  been 
first  past  the  post. 

Although  I  value  racing  form,  as  such,  very  highly,  yet  do 
I  consider  it  of  still  greater  importance  that  a  mare  should 
have  proved,  by  repeated  running,  even  if  not  attended  by 
eminent  success,  that  no  unsoundness  of  limbs,  no  organic  dis- 
ease or  defect  of  temper,  prevented  her  bearing  the  strain  of 
training  and  racing. 

I  know  perfectly  well  that  in  numerous  instances  thoroughly 
sound  animals  with  a  good  temper  and  all  the  necessary  qual- 
ities for  racing,  through  no  fault  of  theirs,  but  in  consequence 
of  a  mere  accident,  have  been  kept  from  appearing  in  public 
(absolute  certainty  in  that  respect  can,  however,  only  be  ac- 
quired by  personal  superintendence  of  their  training) ;  but 
I  know  equally  well  that  in  nine  cases  in  every  ten  unsound- 
iiess,  weakness,  or  temper  has  been  the  cause.  It  is  advisable 
to  rely  on  the  Kacing  Calendar  alone,  and  not  believe  a  word 
of  the  fictitious  marvels  told  of  the  innumerable  mares  without 
public  form,  and  which  tales  are  spread  about  by  the  owners  of 
those  animals.  If  only  one-tenth  of  them  were  true  there 
would  have  been  every  year  at  the  least  a  dozen  winners  of 
the  One  Thousand  Guineas,  the  Oaks,  or  the  Prix  de  Diane — 
if  one  accident  or  another  had  not  happened. 

The  affirmation  on  the  part  of  owners  that  the  mare  for 
sale  had  never  been  trained,  was  not  even  broken,  likewise  fre- 
quently differs  from  the  truth,  and  is  solely  intended  to  make 
the  purchaser  believe  that  she  would  in  all  probability  have 
done  wonders  if  she  had  been  put  into  training.  But,  in 
reality,  this  ought  to  be  considered  as  a  drawback,  as,  those 
of  a  few  eccentric  breeders  excepted,  nearly  every  thoroughbred 
in  England,  if  sound,  well  developed,  and  sufficiently  well  bred, 
is  sent  to  be  trained ;  only  when  too  small,  unsound,  or  cripples 
are  they  thought  not  worth  the  trouble  and  expense,  and  con- 


16  NOTES   ON   BREEDING   RACEHORSES. 

sequently  kept  at  home  at  grass.  I  am  deterred  by  the  expres- 
sion "  never  been  in  training "  or  "  never  been  broken,"  when 
applied  to  a  young  mare,  even  more  than  by  an  injured  leg, 
which  tells  its  own  unvarnished  tale  of  the  reason  of  her  non- 
appearance  in  public.  The  wisest  plan  is  to  keep  aloof  from 
both  until  they  have  by  their  progeny  proved  their  soundness 
as  dams. 

A  look  round  the  select  studs  of  owners  who  breed  their  own 
racehorses  in  England  and  France  (Lord  Falmouth,  Duke  of 
Westminster,  Mr.  Lefevre,  etc.)  will  show  that  nearly  all  their 
brood-mares  have  themselves  been  winners  or  are  the  dams  of 
winners,  with  the  exception  of  only  now  and  then  a  mare  of 
their  own  breeding,  or  from  their  racing-stables,  sent  to  the 
stud  on  trial,  of  whose  internal  soundness  the  owner  is  perfectly 
satisfied,  and  who  has  only  in  consequence  of  an  accident  been 
prevented  from  running  on  the  turf.  Mares  with  high-sounding 
pedigrees,  but  without  any  pretensions  to  individual  goodness, 
form  the  staple  of  a  good  many  studs  breeding  for  sale  over 
which  a  few  matrons  of  sterling  worth — bought,  if  possible,  for 
large  sums  at  public  sales — serve  to  throw  a  kind  of  halo. 
Mares  without  fashionable  pedigrees  or  previous  excellence, 
which  in  England  are  to  be  had  by  the  dozen  for  less  money 
than  that  for  which  half-bred  ones  can  be  purchased  on  the 
Continent,  are  owned  by  needy  people,  who  wait  for  a  lucky 
chance,  or  by  second-  and  third-rate  breeders,  who  speculate  on 
selling  them  to  the  flats  from  abroad. 

Sir  Tatton  Sykes,  quantitatively  one  of  the  most  extensive 
breeders  of  modern  times,  sold  only  his  colts,  while  he  allowed 
the  fillies  to  grow  up  wild  and  untried,  and  kept  those  he  liked 
best  to  breed  from.  The  upshot  was  a  stupendous  failure,  which 
must  have  ruined  any  man  less  wealthy  than  the  Yorkshire 
baronet.  He  had  peculiar  ideas,  and,  I  think,  believed  in  the 
soundness  of  his  principle.  Had  it  been  any  one  else,  I  should 
have  put  him  down  as  a  very  knowing  manager ;  for  in  a  stud 
breeding  for  sale  a  considerable  saving  may  no  doubt  be 
effected  by  substituting  for  brood-mares  of  well-established 
reputation,  that  cannot  be  had  without  the  outlay  of  large 


GENERAL   OBSERVATIONS.  17 

sums  of  money,  young  and  perfectly  untried  animals  which 
have  cost  very  little  to  keep  and  nothing  at  all  to  train.  The 
only  difficulty  is  to  make  the  public,  or  even  a  small  section  of 
it,  share  the  apparent  belief  of  the  owner  and  induce  them  to 
pay  for  the  yearling  colts  in  proportion  to  their  credulity. 

If  Sir  Tatton  had  been  obliged  to  put  all  his  colts  into  train- 
ing, instead  of  disposing  of  them  to  the  highest  bidder,  even  for 
a  mere  song,  as  was  toward  the  end  the  case,  he  would,  I  am 
convinced,  in  spite  of  his  eccentric  obstinacy,  soon  have  changed 
his  mind  and  principle  of  breeding.  I  could  continue  the  sub- 
ject, and  make  similar  remarks  with  regard  to  some  studs  of 
the  present  day  largely  breeding  for  sale  from  untried  mares. 
It  is  thus  not  surprising  to  see  such  breeders  on  speculation 
amongst  the  foremost  champions  of  that  theory.  Any  attempt 
to  get  from  the  same  men — who  invariably  have  a  large  stock 
of  rubbish  on  hand  for  sale  to  the  unwary,  stranger — one  of 
those  mares  with  racing  performances  (of  which,  as  I  explained 
before,  they  keep  a  small  number),  will  be  met  with  the  de- 
mand of  an  absurd  price  or  the  stereotyped  "not  for  sale." 
Should,  however,  an  exception  be  made  and  a  reasonable  sum 
asked,  it  is  ten  to  one  that  there  is  something  wrong  about  the 
mare. 

On  the  other  hand,  it  is  evident  that  in  England  latterly 
a  wholesome  reaction  has  commenced  to  prevail ;  not  so  in 
France,  where  the  thoroughbred  is  at  present  in  danger  of 
suffering  from  the  pernicious  wholesale  production  from  un- 
tried mares  in  studs  breeding  for  sale. 

In  support  of  the  assertions  of  those  fanatics  who  ridicule 
individual  racing  form  as  not  hereditary,  and  look  for  the 
probability  of  propagation  of  such  qualities  in  the  breed  only, 
without  taking  into  account  the  propagating  individual,  Poca- 
hontas  (the  dam  of  Stockwell,  Rataplan,  King  Tom,  etc.)  is 
frequently  quoted  as  the  irrefutable  proof  of  the  correctness  of 
their  theory.  They  copy  from  one  another,  and  rely  on  the 
public  taking  as  little  trouble  as  themselves  to  refer  to  the 
Racing  Calendar  for  the  old  mare's  performances.  For  the 
benefit  of  those  who  not  only  look  for  examples  to  prove  their 


18  NOTES   ON   BREEDING   RACEHORSES. 

ready-made  theories,  but  are  anxious  for  real  facts  from  which 
to  draw  instruction,  I  will  detail  the  racing  career  of  Pocahon- 
tas,  in  order  to  show  that  she  comes  up  to  my  standard  of  a 
good  brood-mare.  Pocahontas,  though  she  was  a  roarer,  by 
her  racing  during  four  seasons  proved  herself  possessed  of  a 
good  constitution ;  her  form,  moreover,  was  not  so  inferior  as 
.many  pretend  it  to  have  been.  If  she  had  run  in  races  of 
minor  importance,  she  would  probably  have  had  more  than 
one  winning-bracket  to  her  name. 

Pocahontas,  bred  1837,  by  Glencoe  out  of  Marpessa  (dam 
of  Jeremy  Diddler  and  Boarding  School  Miss),  when  two  years 
old  ran  only  in  the  Criterion,  unplaced  to  Crucifix. 

As  a  three-year-old  she  ran  twice,  also  unplaced:  in  the 
Oaks,  won  by  Crucifix,  and  in  the  Goodwood  Cup,  won -by 
Beggarman,  in  which  race  Lanercost  was  second  and  Hetman 
Platoff  third. 

At  four  years  of  age  she  ran  three  times  unplaced :  in  the 
Goodwood  Cup,  the  Cesarewitch,  and  the  Cambridgeshire. 

In  the  following  year,  at  Goodwood,  she  won  the  first  heat 
of  a  race  finally  won  by  Currier.  At  Brighton  she  also  won 
the  first  heat  of  a  race  ultimately  won  by  Miss  Heathcote.  She 
made  her  last  appearance  on  the  turf  in  a  mile  race  heats  at 
Rochester  and  Chatham,  where  in  a  field  of  nine  horses  she 
won  the  first  heat  and  in  the  other  two  ran  second  to 
Patchwork. 

To  see  mares  celebrated  on  the  turf — like  Marie  Stuart, 
Fraulein,  etc. — turn  out  indifferent  at  the  stud  may  at  least 
partially  be  accounted  for  by  their  too  arduous  and  too  pro- 
tracted racing  careers. 

Lord  Falmouth's  mares,  whose  racing  careers  invariably 
close  with  the  end  of  their  fourth  year,  rarely  suffer  in  a 
like  manner.  In  support  of  the  correctness  of  this  and  other 
assertions  advanced  by  me,  I  give  the  list  of  that  nobleman's 
entire  stud  at  Mereworth  as  it  existed  in  1880.  It  was  com- 
posed of  the  following  twenty-four  mares : 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS. 


19 


BKOOD  MAKES  AT  MEKEWOETH  IN  1880. 

Names  printed  in  black  letters  are  those  of  winners  of  one  or  more  of  the  four  classic 
races — Two  Thousand  Guineas,  Derby,  Oaks,  and  St.  Leger. 


Own  Performances. 

•0 

Bred  the 

1 

Name. 

Pedigree. 

"Vrtrt*. 

a 

g 

*    Of  which 

following 
Winners. 

Year. 

A 

£ 

Important  Races. 

1858 

SlLVERHAIR.. 

Bv  Kingston  out 
of    England's 
Beauty    (dam 

1860 
1861 

1862 

3 
5 
3 

2 
1 

Eglinton  Stakes. 

Silvester. 
Silver  Ring. 
Periwig. 

of    the    win- 

— 

Garterly  Bell. 

ners: 

11 

3 

Fetterlock. 

Attraction, 

Silvio. 

The  liake). 

Apollo. 

1870 

SILVER  RING 

By  Blair  Athol 
out  of  Silver- 

1872 
1873 

7 
7 

5 
1 

Bretby  Stakes. 

Ringleader. 

hair  (dam  of 

the  winners: 

14 

6 

Silvester, 

Periwig, 

Garterly  Bell, 

Fetterlock, 

Silvio, 

Apollo). 

1859 

HURRICANE... 

By  Wild   Day- 

1861 

4 

2 

1000  Guineas. 

Stromboli. 

rell     out     of 

1862 

8 

3 

Atlantis. 

Midia      (dam 

1863 

4 

Atlantic. 

of    the    win- 

— 

Cataclysm. 

X 

ners  : 

16 

5 

Whirlwind. 

Cynricus, 

Avalanche, 

i 

Tornado, 

Sydmonton). 

« 

1867 

ATLANTIS  

By  Thormanby 
out  of  Hurri- 
cane (dam  of 

1869 
1870 

9 
2 

5 

Clearwell  Stakes. 
Prendergast 
Stakes. 

Henry  II. 

the  winners  : 

11 

5 

Stromboli, 

Atlantic, 

Cataclysm, 

Whirlwind). 

1867 

GERTRUDE.... 

By      Saunterer 

1869 

8 

3 

King  Clovis. 

out  of  Queen 

1870 

11 

4 

Yorkshire  Oaks, 

Childeric. 

Bertha    (dam 

Great      York- 

Charibert. 

of    the    win- 

shire Stakes. 

ners: 

Queen's       Mes- 

1871 

10 

1 

senger, 

^_^ 



Spinaway. 
Wheel   of  For- 

29 

8 

tune. 
Great  Carle). 

20  NOTES   ON   BREEDING   RACEHORSES. 

BROOD    MARES   AT  MEREWORTH   IN   1880— continued. 


i 

Name. 

Pedigree. 

Own  Performances. 

Bred  the 
following 
Winners. 

Year. 

i 

1 

Of  which 
Important  Kaces. 

1860 

Queen 
X  Bertha 

By  Kingston  out 
of  Flax  (dam 

1862 
1863 

4 
5 

1 
2 

Oaks. 

Gertrude. 
Queen's  Mes- 

of   the    win- 

1864 

1 

senger. 

ners: 

— 



Spin  a  way. 

Reginella, 

10 

3 

Wheel  of  For- 

Court Mantle, 

tune. 

Linsey      Wool- 

Great  Carle. 

say). 

1872 

Spinaway  

By       Macaroni 
out  of  Queen 
Bertha    (dam 
of    the    win- 

1874 
1875 

3 
13. 

16 

1 
10 

11 

1000        Guineas, 
Oaks,     Nassau 
Stakes,    York- 

Merr y-go- 
Round. 
Darnaway. 

ners: 

shire         Oaks, 

Gertrude, 

York     Cup, 

Queen's       Mes- 

Doncaster 

senger, 

Stakes,    Royal 

Wheel   of  For- 

Stakes,    New- 

tune, 

Market  Oaks. 

Great  Carle). 

1876 

Wheel  of 

By  Adventurer, 

1878 

6 

6 

Richmond 

Fortune 

out  of  Queen 
Bertha    (dam 

Stakes,    Buck- 
enham  Stakes, 

of    the    win- 

Dewhurst 

ners  : 

Plate. 

Gertrude, 

1879 

5 

4 

1000        Guineas, 

Queen's       Mes- 
senger, 

11 

10 

Oaks,      Prince 
of     Wales's 

Spinawav, 

Great  Carle). 

Stakes     Ascot, 
Yorkshire 

Oaks. 

1865 

LADY  COVEN- 
TRY 

By  Thormanby 
out    of    Lady 

1867 
1868 

1 
6 

"i 

Peeping  Tom. 
Yorkshire 

Eoden     (dam 

— 

_ 

Bride. 

of    the    win- 

7 

1 

Farnese. 

ners: 

Lady  Golight- 

Ma Belle, 

ly. 

Liddington, 

Placentia. 

Mirella),         by 

Earl  Godwin. 

West  Australian 

out  'of  Saun- 

terer  and  Loi- 

terer's dam. 

1875 

LADY     OF 

By  Blair  Athol 

1877 

2 

MERCIA 

out   of    Lady 

Coventry 

(dam    of    the 

winners  : 

Peeping  Tom, 
Yorkshire  Bride 

Farnese, 

Lady  Golightly, 

Placentia, 

Earl  Godwin). 

GENERAL   OBSERVATIONS.  21 

BROOD   MARES   AT   MEREWORTH   IN   1880— continued. 


I 

Name. 

Pedigree. 

Year. 

Own  Performances. 

Bred  the 
following 
Winners. 

1 

1 

Of  which 
Important  Races. 

1874 

LADY       GO- 
LIGHTLY 

By    King    Tom 
out    of    Lady 

1876 
1877 

8 
15 

5 
10 

Champagne 

Stakes. 

Coventry  (dam 
of    the     win- 

Nassau     Stakes, 
Yorkshire 

ners: 

Oaks,       Great 

Peeping  Tom, 
Yorkshire  Bride, 

Yorkshire 
Stakes,      Don- 

Faruese, 

caster    Stakes, 

Placentia, 

Newmarket 

Earl  Godwin). 

Oaks,     New- 

market Derby, 

1878 

8 

2 

11.  in  St.  Leger. 
York  Cup. 

31 

17 

1876 

PLACENTIA  ... 

By  Parmesan  out 

1878 

2 

1 

of  Lady   Cov- 

1879 

2 

... 

entry  (dam  of 

— 

— 

the  winners: 

4 

1 

Peeping  Tom. 

Yorkshire  Bride, 

Farnese, 

Lady  Golightly, 

Earl  Godwin). 

1867 

WHEAT-EAR.. 

By  Young  Mel- 
bourne out  of 

1869 
1870 

6 
9 

3 
4 

Ascot  Biennial. 

Skylark. 
Fieldfare. 

Swallow  (own 
sister  to  Stil- 
ton  and  dam 

1871 

4 
19 

1 

8 

Newmarket    Bi- 
ennial. 

Redwing. 
Leap-  Year. 

of    the    win- 

ners: 

Whitebait, 

Lady  Bugle  Eye, 

Nightjar, 

Ortolan, 

Germania 

Merlin). 

1874 

KITTY 

By  Rosicrucian 

1876 

10 

3 

SPRIGHTLY 

or      Young 
Dutchman 

1877 

6 

1 

out    of    Nike 

16 

4 

(dam    of    the 

winners: 

Juvenis, 

Dreadnought, 

Hydromel, 

Adjutant, 

Spring  Captain, 
Best  and  Brav- 

est, 

Britomartis). 

22  NOTES   ON   BREEDING   RACEHORSES. 

BROOD   MARES   AT   MEREWORTH   IN   1880 -continued. 


i 

Name. 

Pedigree. 

Own  Performances. 

Bred  the 
following 
Winners. 

Year. 

§ 

1 

Of  which 
Important  Races. 

1875 

KEDWING  

By  Blair  Athol 

1877 

6 

5 

Hurstbourne 

out  of  Wheat- 

Stakes,    Astley 

ear    (dam    of 

Stakes,  Conviv- 

the winners  : 

ial  Stakes. 

Skylark, 

1878 

9 

1 

Coronation 

Fieldfare, 

Stakes. 

Leap-Year). 

15 

6 

1876 

LEAP-  YEAR  .. 

By      Kingcraft 

1878 

5 

3 

C  hesterfield 

out  of  Wheat- 

Stakes,     Pren- 

ear    (dam    of 
the  winners  : 
Skylark,  " 

1879 

5 

~ 

dergast  Stakes. 

Fieldfare, 

10 

3 

Redwing). 

1864 

NIKE  

By  Orlando  out 
of  Ayacanora 
(dam   of   the 

1866 
1867 
1868 

11 
9 
6 

3 
3 
3 

Juvenis. 
Dreadnought. 
Kitty 

winners  : 
Cachuca, 

26 

9 

Sprightly. 
Hvdromel. 

Chattanooga, 

Adjutant. 

Cestus),  by  Bird- 
catcher  out  of 

Spring     Cap- 
tain. 

Pocahontas. 

Best  and 

Bravest. 

Britomartis. 

1869 

LILIAN  

By      Wingrave 

1871 

7 

3 

out   of    Lady 

1872 

14 

7 

Newmarket 

Blanche  (dam 

Oaks. 

of    the    win- 

1873 

17 

3 

Brighton  Stakes. 

ners: 
Miss  Gratwicke, 

1874 

32 

21 

Brighton       Cup, 
Warwick  Cup. 

Parmesina, 

1875 

17 

7 

Zee),    by     Vol- 

1876 

19 

5 

Great     Ebor 

tigeur. 

Handicap. 

1877 

3 

0 

109 

46 

and   29    Queen's 

Plates. 

1870 

CANTINIBEE. 

By      Stockwell 
outofCantine 

1872 

7 

6 

Woodcote  Stakes, 
Ascot  Biennial, 

Forager. 
Bal-Gal. 

(dam    of    the 

Hurstbourne 

Dutch  Oren. 

winners  : 

Stakes,     Ches- 

Picnic, 

terfield  Stakes, 

Aventuriere),by 

Lavant  Stakes, 

Orlando     out 

Fiudon  Stakes. 

of         Vivan- 

diere       (own 
sister  to  Vol- 

tigeur). 

GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS.  23 

BROOD   MARES  AT   MEREWORTH   IN  1880— continued. 


Own  Performances. 

• 

Bred  the 

I 

Name. 

Pedigree. 

Year. 

1 

1 

Of  which 
Important  Races. 

following 
Winners. 

1868 

CHE  vi- 

By       Stockwell 

1879 

6 

1 

Jannette. 

S  AUNCE 

out    of  Para- 

Muriel. 

(owu     sister 

digm  (dam  of 

to        Lord 

the  winners  : 

Lyon    and 
Achieve- 

King at  Arms, 
Man  at  Arms, 

ment) 

Rouge  Dragon, 
Blue  Mantle, 

Gardevisure, 

Lord  Lyon, 

Achievement, 

Paraffin). 

1875 

Jannette  

By  Lord  Clifden 

1877 

7 

7 

Criterion  Stakes, 

out  of  Chevi- 

Richmond 

saunce     (own 

Stakes,    Clear- 

sister  to  Lord 

well       Stakes, 

Lyon       and 
Achievement. 

1878 

10 

8 

Bretby  Stakes. 
Oaks,     Midsum- 

mer       Stakes, 

Yorkshire 

Oaks.St.Leger, 

Park    Hill 

Stakes,   Cham- 

pion      Stakes, 

Newmarket 

Oaks. 

1879 

7 

2 

Jockey  Club  Cup. 

24 

17 

1870 

CECILIA  

By  Blair  Athol 

1872 

5 

Olivette. 

out  of  Siberia 

1873 

6 

"2 

1000  Guineas. 

(winner  of  the 

— 

1000  Guineas, 

11 

2 

and    dam    of 

the  winners: 

Patriarch, 

Dandelion). 

1874 

MAVIS  

By  Macaroni  out 

1876 

7 

2 

Gaillard. 

of     Merlette, 

1877 

8 

1 

by  The  Baron 

out    of    Cuc- 

15 

~3 

koo. 

1874 

PALMFLOWER 

By  The  Palmer 

1876 

8 

4 

Hurstbourne 

out  of  Jenny 

1877 

4 

Stakes. 

Diver  (dam  of 

1878 

1 

the  winners  : 

111 

Oasis, 

13 

4 

Jenny  Howlet), 

by  Buccaneer. 

24  NOTES   ON   BREEDING   RACEHORSES. 

On  examination  of  the  foregoing  table  of  the  twenty-four 
matrons,  of  which  that  celebrated  stud  is  composed,  it  will  be 
seen  that 

1.  It  contains  not  a  single  mare  that  has  riot  been  on  the 

Turf,  and  only  one  (Lady  of  Mercia)  that  has  not  won 
a  race.  She  was  the  best-tried  yearling  in  the  stable  and 
of  enormous  size,  but  she  caught  influenza,  and  became  a 
roarer.  Further,  that 

2.  There  is  not  one  amongst  them  that  did  not  run  at  two 

years  of  age,  or 

3.  Remained  on  the  Turf  longer  than  four  years  old,  except 

Lilian,  who  during  her  racing  career  belonged  to  Mr. 
Savile,  and  was  not  purchased  by  Lord  Falmouth  till 
after  its  close;  or 

4.  Whose  dam  had  not  bred  other  winners  besides  herself. 

It  may  be  said  that  breeding  from  tried  and  successful  mares 
is  only  a  hobby  of  Lord  Falmouth's,  and  that  the  same  result 
might  be  obtained  by  other  means.  It  is  difficult  to  deny  this 
with  absolute  certainty.  The  following  tables,  showing  the 
performances  of  the  dams  of  the  winners  of  the  four  classic 
races — Two  Thousand  Guineas,  Derby,  Oaks  and  St.  Leger — 
for  the  twenty  years  from  1860  to  1879,  compiled  for  that  pur- 
pose, however,  will  at  least  prove  that  a  greater  probability  of 
success  is  secured  by  acting  on  that  principle. 


GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS. 


25 


TWO  THOUSAND  GUINEAS. 


Dam  of 

Winner. 

Et 

in. 

Name. 

2  years 
old. 

3  years 
and  up- 
wards. 

Won. 

I860 

The  Wizard 

The  Cure  mare  

1861 

Equation  »  . 

8 

2 

1862 

The  Marquis  

Cinizelli  

3 

1863 

Jocose  

4 

2 

1864 

General  Peel 

Orlando  mare    . 

2 

1865 

Miss  Gladiator 

4 

1866 

2 

1867 

Palm 

8 

7 

Besika 

7    , 

-  26 

7 

1868 

Eller  

2 

7 

2 

1869 

Pretender.  ..:.... 

Ferina  

1870 

Necklace  

8 

1871 

Bothwell   

Katherine  Logie  .... 



1872 
1873 
1874 

Prince  Charlie    
Gang  Forward    
Atlantic     

Eastern  Princess  .... 
Lady  Mary  
Hurricane  

6 
4 

36 
12 

7 
5 

1875 

<  'amballo      

Little  Lady    

18* 

17 

16 

1876 

Petrarch 

Laura                         .   .   . 

5 

4 

2 

1877 

Chamant  

Araucaria    

7 

1 

1878 

Lady  Audley  

1879 

Charibert  . 

Gertrude  .   '. 

8 

21 

8 

DEKBY. 


Year. 

Winner. 

Dam  of  Winner. 

Name. 

Kan. 

Won. 

2  years 
old. 

3  years 
and  up- 
wards. 

1860 
1861 
1862 
1863 
1864 
186o 
1866 
1867 
1868 
1869 
1870 
1871 
1872 
1873 
1874 
1875 
1876 
1877 
1878 
1879 

Thormanby  

Alice  Hawthorn  .... 
Hybla 

3 
1 
11 

2 
6 
1 

8 
5 
4 

8 
8 
5 
3 
1 
6 

68 

4 
9 

4 

16 

7 

1 

9 
4 
14 
1 
7 
13 
8 
1 

49* 

2 
14 

6 

2 
3 

5 
1 
2 
4 
3 
1 

Kettledrum  

Caractacus    
Macaroni  

Defenceless  .          .... 

Jocose  
Blink  Bonny  

Blair  Athol  
Gladiateur 

Miss  Gladiator 

Lord  Lyon  

Paradigm 

Hermit 

Bas  Bleu  .          .   . 

Pretender  
Kingcraft 

Ferina 

Favonius  

Zephyr  
Rigolboche  

Cremorne  
Don  caster 

Marigold 

George  Frederick  .... 
Galopin  .                    .   . 

Princess  of  Wales    .  .   . 
Flying  Duchess     .... 
Mineral 

Kisber 

Silvio  

Silverhair                 .  .  . 

Sefton           

Liverpool's  dam  .... 

Sir  Bevys 

*  Of  which  once  as  a  yearling. 


26 


NOTES   ON   BREEDING  KACEHOESES. 


OAKS. 


Dana  of  " 

Winner. 

Year 

Winner 

Ba 

n.            ] 

Name. 

2  years 
old. 

o  years 
and  up- 
wards. 

Won 

1860 

Butterfly 

Catherine 

7 

4 

1861 

Brown  Duchess  

Espoir  . 

5 

14 

14 

1862 

Feu  de  Joie  

Jeu  d'Esprit  . 

3 

1863 

Flax  

1864 

Fille  de  1'Air  

Pauline 

1865 

Regalia  

The  Gem     

6 

2 

2 

1866 

Torment  .   . 

5 

9 

g 

1867 

Hippia       

Daughter  of  the  Star 

3 

16 

5 

1868 

Eller  

2 

7 

2 

1869 

Brigantine   

Lady  Macdonald 

1 

1 

1870 

Gamos       

Bess  Lyon 

5 

1871 

Mentmore  Lass 

g 

1 

1872 

Heine  

Fille  de  1'Air 

9 

12 

13 

1873 
1874* 

Marie  Stuart  

Morgan  la  Faye    . 

1 

1 

1 

1875 

Spinaway      

Queen  Bertha 

4 

6 

3 

f  Enguerrande     

Deliane    

3 

1 

1876 

1  Camelia  

Araucaria 

7 

1 

1877 

Placida                    .   .   . 

Pietas  (late  Faith) 

14 

15 

5 

1878 

Jannette   

Chevisaunce 

6 

1 

1879 

Wheel  of  Fortune    .  .  . 

Queen  Bertha    

4 

6 

3 

ST.  LEGEK. 


Dam  of 

Winner. 

Vwir 

Winner 

Ra 

n. 

Name. 

2  years 
old. 

3  years 
and  up- 
wards. 

Won. 

1860 

St  Albans 

Bribery    

7 

9 

8 

1861 

Caller  Ou 

Haricot 

40 

18 

1862 

The  Marquis   .... 

Cinizelli  

_ 

3 

1863 

Lord  Clifdeii 

The  Slave       .             .  . 

3 



18fi4 

Blair  Athol 

Blink  Bonny 

11 

9 

14 

1865 

Gladiateur    .   . 

Miss  Gladiator  

4 

1866 

Lord  Lyon    

Paradigm    

2 



18fi7 

2 

1868 

Eller         

2 

7 

2 

1869 

Pero  Gomez    

Salamanca  

4 

3 

1 

1870 

Hawthornden     .... 

Bonny  Blink  

2 

1871 

Hannah     

Mentmore  Lass     .... 

6 

1 

1872 

Wenlock       

Mineral    

5 

13 

4 

1873 

1874 

Marie  Stuart   

Morgan  la  Faye    .... 
Mandragora       .   . 

1 

1 

1 

1875 

Miss  Roland 

16 

3 

10- 

1876 

Petrarch 

Laura           

5 

4 

2- 

1877 

Silvio  

Silverhair   

3 

8 

3 

1878 

Jannette          

6 

1 

1879 

Rayon  d'Or 

Araucaria       

7 

1 

GENERAL   OBSERVATIONS.  27 

The  foregoing  tables  show,  that  of  these  eighty-two  (in  1868 
the  Two  Thousand  Guineas,  and  in  1876  the  Oaks,  resulted  in 
a  dead  heat,  the  stakes  in  each  case  being  divided)  dams  of  the 
winners  of  these  great  races  only  eleven,  or  about  13  per  cent., 
had  not  been  on  the  Turf,  and  that  of  the  remaining  seventy- 
one  tried  mares  only  nineteen  had  not  run  as  two  year  olds. 
Taking,  moreover,  into  consideration  that  of  the  mares  figuring 
in  the  English  Stud  Book  and  used*  for  stud  purposes,  those 
without  public  trial  are  in  an  overwhelming  majority  against 
those  which  have  been  on  the  Turf,  it  cannot  be  denied  that  the 
chances  of  breeding  a  winner  of  one  of  the  four  classic  races  are 
incomparably  better  with  the  latter  than  with  the  former. 

It  is  frequently  laid  down  as  a  rule  that,  in  order  to  benefit 
the  breed  of  horses  in  general,  no  thoroughbred  animal  affected 
with  hereditary  defects  ought  to  be  used  at  the  stud.  It  is  but 
just  that  those  who  clamor  for  this  condition — that  is,  the 
breeders  of  half-breds — should  set  the  example,  which,  how- 
ever, they  frequently  omit ;  and  I  myself  should  not  object  to 
adopt  a  similar  principle  for  the  thoroughbred.  It  depends 
only  on  what  is  understood  by  the  term  hereditary  defects. 
I  take  weakness  and  infirmities  of  the  constitution  to  be  the 
most  hereditary  defects,  and  believe  that  the  ideal  station  on 
which  the  thoroughbred  would  be  enabled  to  fulfil  its  high 
mission  can  be  reached  only  if  no  unsound  mares  are  allowed 
to  be  used  for  stud  purposes.  The  only  practical  test  of  sound- 
ness of  limbs,  digestive  organs,  nerves  and  temper,  remains — 
until  a  more  perfect  system  is  discovered — the  public  trial  on 
the  racecourse. 

A  mare,  which  in  her  second  and  third  year,  when  perfectly 
well  and  fit,  is  repeatedly  brought  out,  and  honestly  perseveres, 
even  if  only  with  moderate  success,  may  in  all  probability  be 
looked  upon  as  sound,  and  from  such  sound  mares,  if  no  misfor- 
tune intervenes,  sound  progeny  may  be  expected.  Exceptions  to 
this,  as  to  any  other  rule,  of  course  do  occur.  So  may  we  some- 
times see  mares,  after  standing  the  wear  and  tear  of  a  Turf  ca- 
reer without  detriment  to  their  constitution,  in  the  end  become 
unsound  dams,  that  is,  bring  unsound  foals  or  none  at  all ;  but  in 


28  NOTES   ON   BREEDING   RACEHOKSES. 

that  case  it  is  generally  in  consequence  of  being  kept  too  long 
on  the  turf;  for  mares  like  Alice  Hawthorn  and  Beeswing  to 

O* 

race  till  their  eighth  and  ninth  year  and  then  bring  sound 
foals,  adapted  for  racing,  are  rare  exceptions  indeed.  I  do  not 
like  to  buy  mares  that  remained  on  the  turf  longer  than,  at 
the  most,  their  fifth  year. 

The  animal  living  in  a  primitive  state,  and  acknowledging 
Dame  Nature  as  the  only  authority  with  regard  to  its  sexual 
instincts,  satisfies  the  longing  as  soon  as  it  makes  itself  felt. 
There  is  not  much  difference  in  our  domestic  animals,  such  as 
cattle,  sheep,  pigs ;  with  them  but  a  comparatively  short  time 
passes  between  the  desire  being  awakened  and  appeased.  In  the 
young  mare  only  that  satisfaction  is  postponed  from  month  to 
month,  from  year  to  year,  until  hysterics  and  similar  disorders 
ultimately  culminate  in  absolute  sterility,  consequences  easy  of 
comprehension,  if  it  is  taken  into  consideration  that  nature  de- 
nied to  the  mare  that  salutary  cleansing  process,  menstruation. 

For  this  reason  I  prefer  for  stud  purposes  mares  which 
during  the  period  of  training  are  never  in  use.  I  have  fre- 
quently known  such  mares,  of  which  on  that  very  account  fears 
of  perfect  uselessness  for  breeding  purposes  were  entertained, 
on  being  sent  to  the  stud,  take  the  horse  at  the  proper  moment, 
be  stinted  the  first  or  second  time  of  covering,  and  retain  this 
very  valuable  habit  during  the  whole  of  their  stud  career. 

I  am  well  aware  that  it  would  be  as  difficult  to  carry  out 
the  exclusion  from  the  stud  of  every  untried  or  unsound  mare, 
as  it  is  to  prevent  others  affected  with  visible  defects  or  imper- 
fections being  used.  I  merely  mean  to  say  that  the  breeding 
from  so  many  untried  or  unsound  mares  is  the  principal  ob- 
stacle to  the  complete  attainment  by  the  thoroughbred  horse 
of  its  ideal  destination. 

The  buying  of  brood  mares,  if  pursued  not  only  with  the  pos- 
sibility, but  the  probability  also  of  success,  is  indeed  no  easy 
task.  By  deducting  all  mares  which  never  showed  any  racing 
form,  nor  ever  bred  a  winner,  the  sum  of  those  remaining  avail- 
able will  be  reduced  by  90  per  cent,  on  those  offered.  This, 
however,  by  no  means  guards  against  bitter  disappointment; 


GENERAL   OBSERVATIONS.  29 

and  in  order  to  insure  the  greatest  possible  safety  in  choosing 
from  among  the  so  reduced  number,  the  intending  purchaser 
will  do  well  to  pay  particular  attention  to  the  following 
points : — 

1.  With  young  mares,  to  be  careful  that  habitually  they  be 

neither  too  gross  nor  too  poor  ;  either  extreme  is  inim- 
ical to  a  healthy  progeny. 

2.  If  dam  and  granddam  have  bred  other  winners,  it  will 

greatly  enhance  the  value  of  the  mare  under  inspec- 
tion ;  the  more  superior,  and  especially  sound,  race- 
horses amongst  her  immediate  relations  the  better.  Is 
she,  on  the  contrary,  of  a  great  number  of  brothers  and 
sisters  the  only  good  performer,  her  acquisition  will  by 
no  means  be  so  desirable  as  at  first  sight  her  individual 
excellence  seemed  to  warrant. 

3.  The  peculiarities  or  weaknesses  with  regard  to  temper, 

organs  of  respiration  and  digestion,  feet,  bad  habits, 
such  as  wind-sucking  or  crib-biting,  nerves,  etc.,  should 
be  taken  into  account ;  likewise  the  strong  or  weak 
points  which  characterize  the  respective  families  must 
not  be  overlooked. 

4.  Before  buying  mares  which  have  already  bred  foals,  one 

should  be  satisfied  as  to  the  state  of  the  sheath.  From 
outward  signs  of  rupture  or  a  blubbering  noise  in  trot 
or  canter,  may  be  inferred  rupture  or  extension  in  its  in- 
ternal parts.  I  cannot  too  energetically  caution  against 
the  purchase  of  such  a  mare ;  she  would  be  too  dear  at 
any  price. 

5.  An  examination  of  the  udder  should  not  be  omitted,  its 

development,  and  whether  on  both  sides  equally  prac- 
ticable. The  state  of  nurture  of  the  last  foal  will  show 
what  nourishment  it  received  from  its  dam ;  in  whole- 
some mother's  milk  frequently  lies  the  decision  of  the 
whole  question  whether  a  foal  will  grow  into  a  race- 
horse or  become  a  miserable  weakling.  Insignificant 
foals  frequently  develop  with  incredible  rapidity  at 


30  NOTES   ON   BREEDING   RACEHORSES. 

foot  of  a  dam  with  exceptionally  good  milk,  as  other 
mares  will,  season  after  season,  throw  magnificent  foals, 
Which  during  suckling  time  collapse^and  melt  away  like 
butter  in  the  sun.  It  is  advisable  to  take  away  from 
such  dams  the  foals  soon  after  they  are  dropped,  and 
get  nurses  for  them  if  they  are  to  be  had.* 

6.  It  is  better  to  abstain  from  purchasing  mares  which,  ac- 

cording to  the  Stud  Book,  have  repeatedly  slipped  their 
foals,  frequently  remained  barren,  or  bred  twins. 

7.  The  first  requisite  in  a  mare  is  that  she  should  be  long, 

deep,  and  roomy,  in  order  to  afford  the  foal  sufficient 
space  for  its  development ;  leggy  and  short  mares  can- 
not be  expected  to  throw  big  foals.  Many  imperfec- 
tions may  be  overlooked  rather  than  these  two. 

8.  I  do  not  like  in  a  brood  mare  a  too  luxuriant  growth  of 

hair,  nor,  especially,  tails  full  and  bushy  at  the  root. 
Foals  from  mares,  and  stallions,  too,  thus  affected,  are 
generally  wanting  in  energy  and  quality.  A  rat  tail 
is  a  great  eyesore ;  but  how  rare  is  a  bad  horse  with 
a  rat  tail? 

9.  From  a  sharply-marked  expression  in  muscles  and  limbs 

in  every  animal,  from  which  it  is  intended  to  breed, 
may  be  inferred  that  its  progeny  will  be  similarly  dis- 
tinguished. The  generic  character,  especially,  must  be 
unmistakably  expressed  in  either  sex.  I  dislike  mares 
resembling  in  shape  and  manners  stallions  as  much  as 
I  do  entire  horses,  a  minute  inspection  of  which  is 
necessary  to  convince  one  that  they  are  not  mares  or 

*  Particularly  sensitive  inares  will  not  easily  submit  to  the  exchange, 
but  with  the  necessary  precaution  and  patience  it  generally  succeeds. 
The  mare  knows  her  foal  by  the  smell  principally,  as  may  be  ascertained 
when  collected  in  greater  numbers.  A  little  aniseed  oil  rubbed  into  the 
coats  of  the  foals  to  be  exchanged,  for  a  few  days,  until  the  mares  have 
got  accustomed  to  it,  prepares  the  deception.  The  mares  are  then  re- 
moved from  their  boxes  for  a  time  sufficient  to  allow  the  pressure  of  the 
milk  in  the  udder  to  become  inconvenient,  when,  the  foals  being  ex- 
changed in  the  meantime,  the  mares  are  brought  back,  and  the  impo- 
sition is  accomplished. 


GENERAL   OBSERVATIONS.  31 

geldings.  The  more  quality  the  mare  possesses,  the 
more  marked  must  be  the  expression  of  her  sex.  The 
charm  of  feminity,  if  I  may  say  so,  ought  to  pervade 
her  whole  appearance. 

To  enumerate  every  possible  rock  on  which  the  purchaser  of 
brood  mares  may  get  wrecked  is  almost  impossible.  It  requires 
the  practical  eye  of  the  breeder,  experienced  in  all  the  difficul- 
ties besetting  his  calling,  to  detect  them  and  to  protect  him 
from  its  danger. 

I  do  not  venture  even  approximately  to  determine  at  what 
age  the  brood  Nmare  attains  the  climax  of  her  propagating 
power.  The  most  celebrated  of  their  kind  exhibit  in  this  re- 
spect the  greatest  varieties,  although  a  certain  distrust  against 
the  produce  of  very  old  mares  may  appear  justified.  But  even 
here  exceptions  are  not  wanting :  for  instance,  Araucaria,  dam 
of  Stephanotis,  Wellingtonia,  Catalpa,  Camelia,  Chamant,  and 
Rayon  d'Or,  was  bred  in  Pocahontas,  her  dam's  twenty-fifth 
year,  whereas  Pocahontas  was  Marpessa's  first  foal,  the  latter 
also  being  the  first  foal  of  Clare.  On  the  other  hand,  it  is  sur- 
prising that  of  the  winners  of  the  four  classic  races  few  were 
first  foals ;  of  the  Derby  during  a  century  only  three — 1795, 
Spread  Eagle ;  1852,  Daniel  o'Rourke ;  and  1855,  Wild  Day- 
rell.  A  singular  fact,  also,  is  that  the  Two  Thousand  Guineas 
in  1823  was  won  by  one  of  twins,  Nicolo,  by  Selim. 

Of  all  the  celebrated  matrons  in  the  Stud  Book,  Queen  Mary 
and  Haricot,  her  daughter,  stand  forth  as  descended  from  dams 
of  the  most  tender  age.  The  mare  by  Plenipotentiary  out  of 
Myrrha,  by  Whalebone,  foaled  in  1840,  was  covered  when  not 
more  than  two  years  old,  and  bred  in  1843  the  famous  Queen 
Mary,  who,  after  running  but  once  as  a  two-year-old,  was  dis- 
abled by  an  accident.  She  was  covered  when  three  years  of 
age,  and  bred  in  the  year  following  Haricot.  In  those  two 
mares,  Queen  Mary  and  her  dam,  early  impregnation  seems  to 
have  been  attended  with  unusual  individual  potency. 

In  general,  let  the  breeder  of  thoroughbreds  never  adopt  the 
principle  that  quantity  better  than  quality  will  succeed. 


32  NOTES   ON   BREEDING   RACEHORSES. 

Breeding  can  be  profitable  only  when  in  conjunction  with  the 
very  best  material  obtainable,  and  when  in  the  produce  nothing 
is  spared  to  contribute  to  success.  Although  a  few  isolated  in- 
stances, like  the  late  Mr.  W.  Blenkiron,  of  Middle  Park  and 
Waltham  Cross,  have  of  late  years  proved  that  wholesale  pro- 
duction of  the  thoroughbred  may  pay,  yet  I  am  doubtful 
whether  Mr.  Blenkiron  did  not  die  at  precisely  the  right  mo- 
ment, and  whether,  without  the  enormous  prices  realized  after 
his  death  at  the  sale  of  his  too  numerous  stud,  the  business 
would  ever  again  have  been  able  to  show  an  equally  favorable 
balance-sheet.  Mr.  Blenkiron  was  an  unusually  clever  man- 
ager ;  he  had  closely  studied  and  completely  grasped  the  differ- 
ent phases  of  the  thoroughbred  market.  On  the  one  side 
breeding  from  a  lot  of  untried  mares,  he  at  public  auctions 
occasionally  threw  away,  apparently  without  an  object,  large 
sums  of  money,  but  in  reality  in  order  to  strengthen  in  the 
public  the  conviction  that  he  was  concentrating  in  Middle  Park 
the  quintessence  of  the  English  Stud  Book,  and  to  familiarize 
purchasers  with  the  idea  of  the  vastly  enhanced  value  of  the 
best  class  of  its  produce.  The  actual  successes  of  the  latter, 
independent  of  the  prices  realized  at  the  sale,  however,  were, 
in  comparison  to  the  quantity,  but  moderate,  and  would,  if  all 
the  horses  bred  by  Mr.  Blenkiron  had  been  trained  and  raced 
for  his  .own  account,  unquestionably  have  ended  in  his  ruin. 

As  it  is  not  likely  that  there  will  ever  again  be,  in  Europe  at 
least,  so  large  a  breeding  establishment  as  that  sold  at  Middle 
Park  in  1872,  it  may  be  in  the  interest  of  the  history  of  the 
thoroughbred  that  the  figures  of  that  ever  memorable  sale  be 
not  lost  in  oblivion.  I  therefore  recapitulate  them  in  this  place. 

During  six  days  in  the  months  of  June  and  July  of  that 
year,  Messrs.  Tattersall  sold  in  the  Middle  Park  Paddocks 

Brood  mares 198 

Foals 119 

Stallions  (including  Blair  Athol  for  12,500  gs.,  Breadal- 

bane  6000  gs.,  Gladiateur  7000  gs.) 12 

Yearlings 101 

430 


GENERAL   OBSERVATIONS.  33 

for  the  sum  of  130,704  so  vs.,  or  at  an  average  of  nearly  304 
so  vs. 

In  half-breds  the  profit  to  be  obtained  from  individual  ani- 
mals is  narrowly  limited.  A  numerical  extension,  therefore, 
may  help  to  distribute  the  general  expenditure  over'  a  greater 
number,  and  thereby  reduce  the  average  cost.  In  the  thorough-, 
bred,  on  the  other  hand,  the  value  of  a  successful  brood  mare  i$ 
almost  illimitable,  and  repays  ma»ifold  for  years  of  fruitless 
labor.  The  late  Mr.  W.  I'Anson  grew  rich  by  the  sale  of 
Queen  Mary's  sons  and  grandsons.  Mr.  Jackson  paid  him  for 
Blair  Athol  alone,  shortly  before  the  St.  Leger,  consequently 
after  the  son  of  Blink  Bonny  had  won  for  his  breeder  the 
Derby,  not  less  than  7000/.;  and  Breadalbane,  Broomielaw, 
Blinkhoolie,  etc.,  also  considerably  swelled  his  receipts  from 
the  male  line.  With  the  female  progeny  of  Queen  Mary  Mr. 
I'Anson  founded  a  breeding  stud,  whose  yearling  produce,  from 
nine  to  ten  in  number,  realized  at  Doncaster,  as  late  as  1880,  an 
average  of  900  gs. 

What  incalculable  value  is  not  represented  by  a  mare  like 
Pocahontas,  whose  direct  descendants  won  the  four  classic  races 
of  England  on  no  less  than  forty-five  occasions !  Pocahontas, 
bred  1837.  reached  the  advanced  age  of  thirty-three  years; 
she  bred  fifteen  foals,  amongst  which  the  stallions  Stockwell, 
Rataplan,  and  King  Tom,  and,  in  a  lesser  degree,  Knight  of 
Kars  and  Knight  of  St.  Patrick,  shine  as  stars  of  the  first  mag- 
nitude. When  twenty-five  years  of  age,  Pocahontas  bred  her 
last  foal,  Araucaria ;  and  how  potent  remained  in  her  that  vital 
power  with  which  she  endowed  her  last  offspring  is  shown  by 
the  achievements  of  the  latter's  progeny — Stephanotis,  Welling- 
tonia,  Camelia  (winner  of  the  Oaks),  Chamant  (winner  of  the 
Middle  Park  and  Dewhurst  Plates  and  the  Two  Thousand 
Guineas),  and  Rayon  d'Or  (winner  of  the  St.  Leger).  Poca- 
hontas founded  a  family  of  heroes,  which  ruled  the  Turf  to  an 
extent  never  equalled.  Stockwell,  himself  a  winner  of  the  Two 
Thousand  Guineas  and  the  Leger,  sired  (besides  three  winners 
of  the  Blue  Ribbon)  six  winners  of  the  St.  Leger,  a  number 
which  has  never  been  reached  before  or  since. 
3 


34 


NOTES   ON   BREEDING    RACEHORSES. 


It  is  highly  interesting  to  follow  the  progeny  of  celebrated 
ancestresses  in  all  its  branches,  with  their  winners  or  dams  of 
winners,  the  issue  of  each  generation,  especially  in  the  female 
line ;  the  value  of  the  stallions  being,  as  a  rule,  more  univer- 
sally known. 

Before  spending  a  large  sum  of  money  for  a  brood  mare,  it 
will  be  well  to  construe  a  genealogical  table  of  the  strains  of 
blood  throughout  the  female  side,  as  I  have  hereafter  tried  with 
regard  to  the  Queen  Mary  and  Miss  Agnes  families.  Nothing 
is  so  appropriate  to  show  at  a  glance  whether  the  mare  under 
consideration  belongs  to  a  great  racing  family,  or  whether  such 
qualities  were  inherited,  in  solitary  instances  only,  or  not  all, 
on  the  side  of  the  dam. 


QUEEN  MARY. 

Bred  1843,  by  Gladiator,  dam  by  Plenipotentiary  out  of  Myrrha,  by  Whalebone 
out  of  Gift,  by  Gohanna. 


Bred. 

Name. 

I 

d 

Important  Races. 

1850 

Sons. 
BALROWNIE                  .   .   . 

10 

3 

Doncaster  Stakes. 

1853 
1858 

BONNIE  SCOTLAND  

BONNYFIELD 

4 

2 

Doncaster  Stakes. 
Disabled,  but  sire  of  winners. 

1862 

BROOMIELAW  .    .       .... 

18 

7 

Dee  Stakes. 

1863 

16 

6 

Chesterfield  Cup. 
Dee  Stakes. 

1864 

BliINKHOOLIE  .          

21 

9 

Ascot  Gold  Vase. 

1847 

Daughters. 
I    HARICOT           

40 

17 

Alexandra  Plate. 

1857 

Her  Produce, 
a    Cramond       .    . 

21 

3 

1858 

6    Caller  Ou  

98 

49 

34  Queen's  Plates. 

1867 
1868 
1870 
1872 
1878 
1864 

Pandore    .    . 
The  Pearl  .    . 
Poldoody  .    . 
Periwinkle    . 
Roysterer  .    . 

14 
27 
13 
11 
13 

4 
8 
2 
3 
2 

St.  Leger. 
Twice  Northumberland  Plate. 
Brighton  Cup. 
York  Cup. 

Still  running. 

1870 
1873 

King  William  .    . 
Titania  . 

38 
2 

6 
1 

GENERAL   OBSERVATIONS. 


35 


QUEEN   MAKY— continued. 


Bred. 

Name. 

1 

a 
1 

Important  Races. 

1868 
872 

1876 

1878 

HARICOT  —  continued, 
d.  Lady  Langden     .    . 
Hampton  .... 

Sir  Bevys  .... 
Fosyan  ... 

6 
33 

4 
14 

19 

• 

1 
1 

Epsom  Gold  Cup. 
Doncaster  Cup. 
Northumberland  Plate. 
Goodwood  Cup. 
Goodwood  Stakes. 
Derby. 

1869 
1849 

e.  Freeman    
II.  BRAXEY 

37 

PiO 

9 
1*) 

Twice  GreatNorthern  Handicap. 
Goodwood  Stakes. 
Chesterfield  Cup. 
Alexandra  Plate. 

1858 

Her  Produce 
a.  Bernice  . 

•>! 

8 

1862 
1868 
1863 
1865 

b.  Kate  Hampton     .    . 
Lady  Mortimer    . 
c.  La  Dauphine    .    .    . 
d.  Thrift     

7 
11 
24 

2 
3 

1878 

1879 
1869 

Tristran     .... 

Pursebearer  .    .    . 
e.  Ella    

37 

11 

fl8 

18 

2 
4 

Epsom  Gold  Cup. 
Ascot  Gold  Vase. 
Hardwicke  Stakes. 
Champion  Stakes. 
Grand  Prix  Deauville. 
Still  running. 
Still  running. 

1870 
1852 

1858 

/.  Miss  Wingie  .... 
III.  BLOOMING  HEATHER    . 
Her  Produce. 
a.  Grouse 

16 

9 

2 

1859 

b.  Gorse 

21 

2 

1872 
1873 

1875 
1876 

Goura     
Good  Hope  .    .    . 

Blanc  Hexe  .    .    . 
Tyrann  .    .    . 

17 
5 

12 

17 

3 
3 

2 
5 

Hertefeldt. 
Vienna  Derby. 
Union  Berlin. 

Still  running. 

1877 
1878 
1862 
1869 
1863 
1867 

Schlenderhan    .    . 
Kaiser    
c.  Maid  Marian    .    .    . 
King  Tom  colt     . 
d.  Robin  Hood.    .    .    . 
e.  Mahonia    

6 
3 
5 
4 
11 
T> 

2 
3 
1 
1 

2 
8 

Still  running. 
Hertefeldt.    Still  running. 

1874 
1869 
1854 

1860 

Magnolia  .... 
/.  Laburnum     .... 
IV.  BLINK  BONNY    .... 
Her  Produce, 
a.  Borealis     .    .    . 

9 
22 
20 

?1 

1 
3 
14 

fi 

and  5  Steeplechases. 
Derby. 
Oaks. 

1868 
1869 
1870 
1872 

Hyperion  .... 
Red  Light     .    .    . 
Blue  Light    .    .    . 
Flying  Scotchman 

25 
5 
16 
9 

5 

2 
2 
1 

36 


NOTES   ON   BREEDING   RACEHORSES. 


QUEEN  MAKY— continued. 


Bred. 

Name. 

1 

i 

Important  Kaces. 

1873 
1861 

1862 
1857 
1870 

BLINK  BONNY  —  continued. 
Pier  Light    .    .    . 
b.  Blair  Athol   .... 

c.  Breadalbane  .... 

V.   BAB-AT-THE-BOWSTER     . 
Her  Produce. 
a.  Whymper  .           .    . 

3 

7 

27 
18 
1? 

i 

5 

8 
3 

?, 

Derby. 
Leger. 
Prince  of  Wales  Stakes,  Ascot. 
Gratwicke  Stakes. 

1872 
1875 
1876 
1859 

1874 

b.  Mare  by  Adventurer 
c.  Mare  by  Knowsley  . 
d.  Lady  Dixie  .... 
VI.  BONNY     BREAST  -  KNOT 
(in  France). 
Her  Produce, 
a.  Sheldrake 

22 
15 
35 
10 

39 

6 
1 

2 

1 

ft 

1860 

1867 
1869 

VII.  BONNY  BELL    .... 
Her  Produce. 
a.  Bonny  Swell     .    .    . 
b.  Tocsin            .... 

12 

17 
q 

1 

3 
3 

1871 

c.  Blantyre    

9 

?, 

1874 

d   Muscatel 

9^ 

3 

1875 

e.  Beauclerc           .    .    . 

5 

3 

Middle  Park  Plate. 

1866 

VIII.  BERTHA  

7 

1 

1872 

Her  Produce, 
a    Brenda              .    .    . 

47 

?,1 

1873 

b.  Bridget  

27 

4 

and  over  hurdles. 

MISS  AGNES. 

Bred  1850,  by  Birdcatcher  out  of  Agnes  (dam  of  Lady  Agnes),  by  Clarion  out 
of  Annette  (dam  of  Ambrose  and  Glenmasson),  by  Priam. 


Bred. 

Name. 

1 

1 

Important  Races. 

1858 

Sons. 

GOLDSEEKER 

17 

4 

1859 

KING  OP  KARS              .   .   . 

17 

3 

1864 

BISMARCK           

46 

13 

1869 

LANDMARK 

16 

?, 

1871 

1856 

COURONNE  DE  FER      .... 

Daughters. 
I    LITTLE  AGNES  

10 

?,?, 

4 
4 

Hurstbourne  Stakes. 
Stockbridge  Cup. 
Hopeful  Stakes. 

1861 
1862 
1869 
1871 
1873 

Her  Produce, 
a.  Prince  Arthur  . 
b.  Wild  Agnes  .    .        . 
Little  Agnes. 
Fair  Agnes    . 
Wild  Tommy 

13 
37 
13 
4 
19 

6 
14 
6 

"i 

Prix  de  Diane. 

GENERAL   OBSERVATIONS. 


37 


MISS  AGNES— continued. 


Bred. 

Name. 

i 

§ 

Important  Races. 

1863 

LITTLE  AGNES  —  continued, 
c.  Fair  Agnes  (broken 
hip) 

1868 
1870 
1871 
1872 

Bishopthorpe    .    . 
Wild  Aggie  .    .    . 
Agglethorpe      .    . 
Percy     

68 
21 
67 
13 

16 
9 
12 
1 

1874 
1877 
1878 
1879 
1864 
1868 
1869 
1870 
1871 

Constantino  .    .    . 
Gildersbeck  .    .    . 
Melmerby  .... 
Daffodil     .... 
d.  Tibthorpe      .... 
e.  Merry  Agnes     .    .    . 
/.  Little  Heroine  .    .    . 
?.  Couleur  de  Rose  .    . 
.  Thirsk    ....'.. 

41 
41 
23 
5 
44 
31 
25 
17 
16 

5 
8 
2 
1 
11 
9 
2 
3 
4 

Still  running. 
Still  running. 

Stewards'  Cup. 

1875 
1878 
1857 

1862 

1868 

i.  Bonnie  Agnes  .    .    . 
k.  Banbury  Bun   .    .    . 
II.  BROWN  AGNES    .... 
Her  Produce. 
a.  Brown  Bread    .    .    . 

b.  Andorka            .    . 

7 
9 
5 

25 

35 

2 
1 

9 
6 

Northumberland  Plate. 
Caledonian  St.  Leger. 
Nemzeti. 

1877 
1869 

Armgard   .... 
c.  Labancz         .    . 

18 
5 

7 
1 

1863 
1865 

1871 

1875 
1876 
1867 

III.  DARK  AGNES  (dead)    . 
IV.  POLLY  AGNES    .... 
Her  Produce, 
a.  Lily  Agnes    .... 

b.  Tiger  Lily     .    .    .   . 
c.  Jessy  Agnes     .    .    . 
V.  FRIVOLITY    

29 
32 

14 
13 
15 

4 
21 

2 
6 
4 

Northumberland  Plate. 
York  Cup. 
Doncaster  Cup. 
Ebor  Handicap. 

Althorp  Park  Stakes. 

1874 
1877 
1870 

1875 

Her  Produce, 
a.  Grand  Templar    .    . 
b.  Miss  Edwards  .    .    . 

VI.    WlNDERMERE       .... 

Her  Produce. 
a.  Ether     

13 

26 
3 

i 

1 
10 
1 

1 

Middle  Park  Plate. 

1876 

b.  Bowness 

17 

B 

1877 
1878 

c.  Muncaster     .... 
d.  Westmoreland  .    .    . 

3 
4 

1 
1 

Still  running. 

How  far  the  exterior  is  to  be  considered  in  the  choice  of 
animals  intended  for  the  stud  is  an  open  question  which  causes 
much  dispute,  but  which  each  breeder  answers  for  himself, 
according  to  the  aim  he  has  in  view. 


38  NOTES   ON   BREEDING   RACEHORSES. 

Those  who  will  not  pay  the  cost  of  production  of  the  thor- 
oughbred, that  is,  who  breed  and  use  half-bred  horses,  insist  on 
the  power  and  regularity  in  make  and  shape  of  the  latter ;  they 
forget,  however,  that  the  breeder  of  thoroughbreds  can  calculate 
to  a  fraction  that  selling  his  produce  outside  the  racecourse  by 
the  standard  of  the  exterior  alone  will  not  pay  for  its  rearing, 
nor  original  cost  and  keep  of  the  brood  mares,  covering  fees, 
&c.  If  he  had  no  other  means  of  disposing  advantageously  of 
his  produce,  he  would  find  himself  placed  in  the  alternative, 
either  to  breed  from  cheap,  and,  therefore,  indifferent  material, 
at  a  rate  of  expense  not  exceeding  that  of  a  half-bred  stud,  pro- 
ducing consequently  inferior  animals,  never  subjected  to  public 
trials,  or  to  give  up  breeding  altogether.  Of  the  two,  he  would 
certainly  do  better  to  choose  the  latter ;  for,  by  following  the 
former  plan,  he  would  find  himself  needlessly  restricted  in  the 
choice  of  brood  mares  and  sires,  and,  after  all,  produce  animals, 
the  only  difference  between  which  and  half-breds  would  consist 
in  inferior  size  and  lack  of  substance. 

He  who  would  breed  thoroughbreds  on  rational  principles, 
and  knows  how  to  calculate,  is  forced  to  look  for  a  better  re- 
turn for  the  capital  invested  than  the  every-day  market  affords. 
This  he  will  find  only  on  the  racecourse,  without  which  the 
production  of  thoroughbreds  would  be  aimless,  because  it  offers 
the  only  possible  public  trial  on  which  the  whole  principle  is 
based. 

To  sum  up,  I  say : 

The  breeding  of  thoroughbreds  to  suit  the  ever-changing 
fashion  as  to  exterior,  without  regard  to  highly-tried  capabil- 
ities, I  look  upon  as  an  absurdity — in  that  case  it  would  be 
preferable  to  turn  one's  attention  to  the  better  classes  of  the 
half-bred — but  within  the  acknowledged  best  strains  of  blood 
I  should  by  no  means  neglect,  if  only  on  patriotic  grounds,  the 
exterior,  for  in  the  production  of  our  half-breds  it  has  become 
an  absolute  necessity  to  use  thoroughbred  stallions,  not  only 
with  performances  of  a  high  order,  but  also  that  our  cavalry 
horses  may  answer  certain  conditions  and  forms  about  make 
and  shape  laid  down  in  order  to  prevent  their  deterioration. 


GENERAL   OBSERVATIONS.  39 

The  term  of  so-called  faultlessness,  however,  is  not  to  be  taken 
in  so  strict  a  sense,  when  used  in  conjunction  with  the  tried 
thoroughbred,  as  when  applied  to  the  untried  half-bred. 

In  the  former,  every  deviation  from  the  true  shape  is  ren- 
dered more  distinct  by  the  exertions  inseparable  from  the  train- 
ing ground  and  the  racecourse,  and,  by  the  tension  or  straining 
of  the  sinews,  muscles  and  tendons,  even  develops  into  a  visible 
defect.  In  the  half-bred  stallion  "the  disposition  to  the  same 
imperfection  slumbers  perhaps  still  nearer  the  surface,  and 
would  scarcely  allow  him  to  pride  himself  on  his  cheaply 
acquired  freedom  from  blemish,  if  he  were  ever  compelled  to 
leave  his  dolce  far  niente  and  undergo  severe  trials. 

My  opinion  as  to  the  relative  value  of  true  shape  and  per- 
formances in  the  choice  of  a  stallion  to  breed  from,  that  is, 
what  percentage  of  the  one  might  be  sacrificed  to  the  other, 
may,  not  inaptly,  I  believe,  in  figures  be  thus  expressed: 
I  require  the  sire,  intended  for  the  production  of  thorough- 
breds, for  every  per  cent,  less  performance  three  per  cent,  more 
exterior — the  form,  however,  should  never  be  less  than  good 
second  class ;  for  that  of  half-breds  I  reverse  the  proportion, 
and  give  for  every  per  cent,  exterior  three  per  cent,  perform- 
ance. To  breed  racehorses  from  a  stallion  who  himself  did  not 
belong  to  the  first  or  second  class  on  the  turf  is  imprudent,  for 
the  instances  of  an  inferior  stallion  producing  a  superior  race- 
horse are  of  such  very  rare  occurrence — this  used  to  be  tried, 
not  without  success,  most  frequently  in  France,  but  has  latterly 
there  also  begun  to  bear  bad  fruit — that  the  numerous  fruitless 
experiments  which  must  be  made  before  that  one  is  found 
would  in  all  likelihood  swallow  a  fortune. 

Now,  taken  into  consideration  that  England,  for  instance, 
produces  every  year  a  thousand  thoroughbred  colts,  and  of 
that  number  not  more  than  one  or  two  develop  into  racehorses 
of  the  first  class,  and  perhaps  two  or  three  of  a  second  class, 
good  enough  to  breed  thoroughbreds  from ;  considered  further, 
how  lenient  the  English  breeder  is  with  regard  to  certain  im- 
perfections of  shape  which,  in  Germany,  would  condemn  the 
horse  at  once,  and  that,  on  the  other  hand,  the,  in  England, 


40  NOTES   ON   BREEDING    RACEHORSES. 

acknowledged  very  best  stallions  are  scarcely  ever  for  sale,  it 
may  be  readily  understood  how  difficult  it  is  to  acquire  a  stal- 
lion of  the  first  class  adapted  to  the  production  of  thorough- 
breds, and  if  first  rate  form  and  undeniable  pedigree  be  strictly 
adhered  to,  how  necessary  it  is  sometimes  to  be  more  indulgent 
with  regard  to  the  exterior  than  under  other  circumstances 
inclination  would  admit. 

Our  German  public  knows  nought  of  such  difficulties,  and 
requires  that  the  thoroughbred  stallion  of  the  first  class,  besides 
form  and  quality,  be  possessed  of  the  power  and  truth  of  shape 
of  the  half-bred,  and  the  action  of  the  Arab.  The  good  people 
forget  that  everything  in  the  world  has  its  limits,  and  that 
Nature  herself  is  impotent,  when  asked  to  produce  an  animal 
of  the  strength  of  the  elephant  with  the  agility  of  the  gazelle. 

It  is  difficult  and  requires  much  local  knowledge  to  buy 
sound  mares  of  the  best  strains  of  blood  and  some  public  form 
or  proved  excellence  at  the  stud,  yet  is  their  number  not  nearly 
so  narrowly  limited  as  that  of  sires.  It  is  therefore  advisable, 
in  the  choice  of  mares,  to  be  more  rigorous  with  regard  to  make 
and  shape,  else  the  thoroughbred  will  scarcely  fulfil  its  mission 
—the  production  of  capable  half-bred  stallions,  answering  the 
conditions  which  the  breeders  of  such  and  of  cavalry  horses  are 
justified  in  making. 

The  realization  of  this  purpose  by  judicious  mating  of  sire 
and  dam  is  materially  facilitated,  if  the  breeder  is  not  only 
familiar  with  the  peculiarities  of  the  families  from  which  they 
are  descended,  but  also  has  known  them  during  their  racing 
career.  The  impression  received  on  the  racecourse  of  the  horse 
in  the  height  of  condition  is  with  greater  truth  reflected  in  its 
immediate  descendants,  than  that  which  is  derived  from  the 
same  animal  when  at  the  stud.  In  the  former  case  nothing  is 
hidden  by  superfluous  flesh,  and  every  imperfection  of  shape 
is  rendered  more  conspicuous,  when  every  muscle,  sinew,  and 
tendon  is  braced  by  hard  work. 

It  may,  perhaps,  not  be  out  of  place  here  to  express  my  views 
on  the,  of  late  years,  steadily  increasing  disorder  of  roaring. 

I  have  observed  that  in  the  English  thoroughbred  the  growth 


GENERAL   OBSERVATIONS.  41 

of  this  defect  has  kept  pace  with  the  increase  of  two-year-old 
racing,  especially  in  early  spring,  and  consequent  thereon  with 
the  increase  of  studs  breeding  for  sale. 

This  may  appear  strange,  but  is  easily  explained.  Racing 
at  so  tender  an  age  requires  early  developed  yearlings ;  those 
studs,  however,  can  flourish  only  when  keeping  that  requisite 
in  view,  for  experience  teaches  that  ja,  yearling  which  promises 
to  win  back  his  purchase-money  within  eight  or  ten  months, 
will  command  a  much  higher  price  than  one  whose  usefulness 
will  probably  not  begin  before  his  third  year.  The  consequence 
is  that  they  force  their  produce  like  asparagus  in  a  hot-bed,  in 
order  to  bring  them  up  for  sale  as  big  as  it  is  possible  to  get 
them.  Such  only  find  ready  customers,  and  the  assumption  by 
a  discriminating  public,  that  all  such  breeders  act  on  the  same 
principle,  more  especially  those  who  affirm  the  contrary,  totally 
depreciates  the  less  developed  yearlings,  for  the  purchaser  be- 
lieves— and  generally  his  surmise  is  not  without  justification — 
that  with  them  also  the  forcing  process  has  been  tried,  but  tried 
in  vain.  Thus,  every  stud  owner  breeding  for  sale  is  compelled 
to  adopt  the  pernicious  practice,  and,  in  the  end,  the  home 
breeder  will  have  to  follow  the  fashion. 

That  to  yearlings,  unnaturally  forced  in  their  development, 
the  early  training  brings  more  danger  than  to  those  reared  in 
a  natural,  and,  therefore,  more  healthy  manner — hence  smaller 
and  less  gross,  is  self-evident.  Their  puffed-out  organs  of 
respiration  especially  are  affected  by  the  keen  atmosphere  in 
autumn  and  winter,  during  which  their  first  training  takes 
place,  and,  consequently,  rendered  more  prone  to  inflammation. 
If  the  constitutional  weakness,  from  which  originates  the  in- 
clination to  morbid  affections  of  the  respiratory  organs  through 
irrational  rearing  is  continued  from  generation  to  generation, 
the  predisposition  to  roaring  ultimately  becomes  hereditary. 

Most  frequent,  naturally,  are  these  symptoms  of  disorder  in 
descendants  from  stallions  from  whom  they  inherit  the  attribute 
of  quick  growth,  for  they  are  the  first  taken  into  training. 

It  is  equally  natural  that  young  horses  with  long  necks  turn 
roarers  sooner  than  short-necked  ones;  for  if  through  each  of 


42  NOTES   ON   BEEEDING   RACEHORSES. 

two  tubes  of  the  same  width,  but  of  different  length,  a  certain 
quantity  of  air  shall  pass  in  exactly  the  same  space  of  time,  it 
follows  with  mathematical  certainty  that,  in  the  longer  tube, 
the  current  must  be  forced  through  at  a  quicker  rate,  and,  con- 
sequently, affect  the  sides  and  valves  in  a  higher  degree  than 
in  the  shorter.  It  is,  moreover,  a  well-known  fact  in  human 
physiology,  that  long  necks  incline  more  to  diseases  of  the 
larynx  than  others. 

English  breeders  do  not,  however,  on  account  of  the  predom- 
inating number  of  short  races  which  may  be  won  by  a  roarer, 
hesitate  to  use  stallions  thus  afflicted  at  the  stud.  I  believe 
that,  if  the  system  were  changed,  two-year-old  racing  abolished, 
and  the  distances  to  be  run  over  generally  lengthened,  throat 
diseases  would  gradually  diminish,  though  not  at  the  same  ratio 
in  which  they  have  for  the  last  thirty  years  increased. 

I  am,  however,  no  advocate  of  so  radical  a  measure  as  the 
abolishment  of  two-year-old  races,  which  for  many  reasons 
could  not  be  carried  out  without  any  detriment  to  racing  at 
large ;  I  am  only  at  a  loss  how  to  check  in  any  other  way  the 
fattening  process  yearlings  are  forced  to  undergo,  and  the  too 
early  and  too  frequent  racing  of  two-year-olds. 

It  will,  no  doubt,  be  argued,  that  there  are  many  roarers  to 
be  found  in  France,  although  in  that  country  two-year-olds  do 
not  run  before  the  1st  of  August,  and  the  distances  in  races  for 
horses  above  that  age  are  twice  as  long  as  in  England.  It  is 
true  there  are  a  good  many  roarers  in  France  now,  but  the  dis- 
ease was  imported  from  England,  and  has  spread  with  the 
greatly  enhanced  prices  of  yearlings,  caused  by  the  vast  in- 
crease in  the  demand  for  racing  material. 

Based  on  and  caused  by  the  rapid  growth  of  racing  in 
France,  a  great  number  of  studs,  principally  breeding  for  the 
yearlings  market,  have  sprung  into  existence,  carrying  on 
wholesale  production  by  means  of  unsound  mares,  imported 
from  England  by  the  dozen  at  501.  apiece  and  even  less. 
Twenty  years  ago  there  were  scarcely  any  roarers  in  France, 
but  also  no  studs  breeding  for  sale. 

I  am  well  aware  that  at  present  many  public  breeders  may 


GENERAL   OBSERVATIONS.  43 

point  to  certain  private  studs,  producing  as  many  roarers  as 
themselves  or  more.  But  I  think  this  does  not  much  shake 
my  argument.  No  doubt  a  certain  number  of  select  studs 
breeding  first-class  yearlings  for  sale,  as  for  instance  the 
Blankney  stud  and  some  others,  contribute  just  as  much  to 
the  improvement  of  the  breed  as  the  best  private  studs ;  but 
what  I  mean  to  say  is,  that  the  overgrowth  of  public  studs,  in 
comparison  to  home  breeding,  softens  the  thoroughbred  race, 
through  using  too  much  weak,  unsound,  and  altogether  inferior 
material  for  the  reproduction,  and  through  forcing  the  foals  too 
much  with  a  view  to  the  yearling  market. 


CHAPTER    II. 

IN-BREEDING—OUT-CROSSING. 

I  HAVE  promised  elsewhere  to  explain  my  views  on  the  ad- 
vantages or  disadvantages  of  in-breeding  with  regard  to  the 
breed  of  racehorses,  and  will  now  proceed  to  do  so.  It  is  much 
to  be  regretted  that  our  writers  on  zoology  have  not,  instead  of 
sheep,  pigs,  cattle,  or  cart  horses,  chosen  the  thoroughbred  horse 
as  the  basis  of  their  investigations  in  that  direction. 

According  to  my  idea,  no  species  of  animal  creation  is  so 
specially  adapted  for  that  purpose,  for  here  incontestable  facts 
and  the  accumulated  statistics  of  the  racing  calendar  collected 
during  a  space  of  more  than  one  hundred  and  seventy  years, 
are  available  as  incontrovertible  evidence,  whereas  in  the 
breeding  spheres  selected  and  treated  on  by  the  zoologists, 
much  must  naturally  depend  on  personal  opinion,  unreliable 
information,  statements  copied  from  other  authors,  or  similar 
unsupported  assertions. 

The  origin  of  the  English  thoroughbred  is  carried  back  to 
three  Oriental  ancestors,  viz.,  the  Byerly  Turk,  the  Darley 
Arabian,  and  the  Godolphin  Arabian.  It  is  a  universally 
recognized  maxim  to  count  all  living  stud  horses  as  belong- 
ing to  those  families  from  which  they  descend  in  a  direct  male 
line,  the  maternal  descent  being  a  matter  of  secondary  consid- 
eration. It  is  manifest  that  this  classification  should  not  in  all 
cases  be  a  criterion,  for  a  horse  may  have  in  its  veins,  through' 
the  dams,  double  the  quantity  of  blood  from  their  families  to 
that  which  is  derived  from  the  male  descent  of  its  sire,  and  yet 
is  considered  to  belong  to  the  family  of  the  latter. 

If,  however,  the  object  is  to  gain  a  general  view  of  the  whole 
breed,  and  especially  of  those  families  which  in  course  of  time 
have  proved  most  successful,  and  to  follow  up  their  origin  to 

44 


IN-BREEDING—OUT-CROSSING.  45 

the  beginning  of  the  last  century,  nothing  remains  but  to  class-  YjJ 
ify  them  according  to  their  male  ancestors,  the  female  descent    J 
offering  not  nearly  so  clear  a  perspective. 

In  order  to  afford  a  more  comprehensive  view  of  the  whole 
subject,  I  have,  as  a  special  supplement,  added  thirteen  tables, 
of  which  the  first  three  reach  to  the  middle  of  the  nineteenth 
century,  and  the  following  ten  show  the  progeny  of  those  stal- 
lions whose  male  descendants  at  the  present  time  rank  foremost  at  V 
the  stud,  and  appear  destined  in  coming  generations  to  form  the  ,|  .1 
corner-stones  of  the  race.  As  such  they  will  probably  suffice  fu- 
ture breeders  as  points  of  departure  in  the  framing  of  pedigrees. 

These   compilations    show  that   the   family   of  the   Darley 
Arabian,   or    rather    that    of   Eclipse,    largely   predominates, . 
especially  in  England,  over  the  other  two. 

The  family  which  claims  the  Byerly  Turk  for  its  ancestor, 
with  his  three  great  descendants,  Wild  Dayrell,  The  Flying 
Dutchman,  and  Partisan,  at  present  exercises  less  influence  on 
the  breed  in  England  than  in  other  countries. 

Wild  Dayrell's  most  eminent  son,  Buccaneer,  was  carried  off 
to  Hungary  after  having  produced  in  England,  besides  several 
prominent  mares — amongst  them  two  winners  of  the  Oaks — 
only  Paul  Jones  and  See  Saw.  Hungary  in  her  turn,  however, 
had  to  witness  the  expatriation  of  Buccaneer's  most  celebrated 
scion,  Kisber,  to  the  land  of  his  ancestors. 

The  Flying  Dutchman  went  to  France  and  there  got  his  two 
best  sons,  Dollar  and  Dutch  Skater,  of  which  two  the  latter,  at 
present  serving  at  the  stud  in  England,  seems  to  be  the  less 
valuable,  since,  with  the  exception  of  Insulaire  and  Dutch 
Oven,  he  has,  as  yet,  produced  nothing  of  note. 

Partisan's  most  famous  son,  Gladiator,  also  fell  to  the  share 
of  France,  where  he  got  a  great  number  of  excellent  mares 
— amongst  others  Gladiateur's  dam,  and,  especially  through 
founding  the  Fitz  Gladiator  family,  acquired  lasting  merit. 
Fortunately  for  England  he  bequeathed  to  her  in  Sweetmeat 
a  pillar  of  the  breed,  and  in  Queen  Mary — the  dam  of  Haricot, 
Blooming  Heather,  Blink  Bonny — the  mother  of  a  family  of 
heroes. 


46  NOTES   ON   BREEDING   RACEHORSES. 

Besides  these  England  has  kept  nothing  prominent  of  Parti- 
san's progeny  ;  neither  Kingston,  nor  his  two  most  noteworthy 
sons,  Ely  and  Caractacus,  having  realized  at  the  stud  what 
they  promised  on  the  turf.  The  Derby  winner  of  1862  was 
later  on  exported  to  Kussia. 

Glaucus's  line  is  represented  by  The  Nabob's  sons  only,  of 
which  England  possessed  Nutbourne  alone ;  while  France  got 
Suzerain  and  Vermout,  with  his  sons,  Boiard  and  Perplexe, 
and  Austria,  Bois  Roussel.  America,  too,  has  owned  in  a 
lineal  descendant  from  the  Byerly  Turk,  Lexington,  one  of 
her  most  successful  sires. 

The  Godolphin  Arabian  in  our  days  is,  properly  speaking, 
represented  by  the  Melbourne  family  alone,  and  in  England 
threatens  to  become  extinct  in  his  male  descendants.  The 
most  successful  stallion  of  that  clan  living  seems  to  be  Ruy 
Bias ;  but  this  son  of  West  Australian  is  in  France,  whither 
the  first  winner  of  that  great  treble  event — or  triple  crown  as 
it  is  called — Two  Thousand  Guineas,  Derby,  and  St.  Leger  was 
exported.  It  may  yet  be  that  Knight  of  the  Garter,  Plebeian, 
or  Statesman  rouse  themselves,  and  after  all  give  to  England  a 
first-class  sire  of  that  strain  of  blood.  For  the  first  of  the  three 
it  was,  perhaps,  unfortunate  that  The  Jewel,  in  foal  to  him,  was 
sent  abroad ;  yet  it  is  questionable  whether  Przedswit,  with  his 
doubtful  pluck,  would  in  England  have  become  of  sufficient 
note  to  induce  the  breeding  public  to  send  him  really  good 
mares.  The  Earl,  Mornington,  Pell  Mell,  Straffbrd,  and  the 
brother  to  Straffbrd,  appear  scarcely  destined  to  continue  in 
coming  centuries  the  Melbourne  family. 

It  is  a  remarkable  fact,  that  the  Melbourne  blood  in  its 
female  descent  shows  to  so  much  greater  advantage  than  in  the 
other  sex,  for  which  reason  the  family  is  so  inadequately  repre- 
sented in  the  stallions  belonging  to  it.  In  the  whole  stud  book 
there  is  scarcely  to*  be  found  a  sire  of  better,  and  in  their  pro- 
geny more  successful,  mares  than  Melbourne  (Blink  Bonny, 
Blooming  Heather,  Canezou,  Go-ahead,  Leila,  Mentmore  Lass, 
The  Slave,  Stolen  Moments,  Sortie,  The  Bloomer,  etc.)  ;  but  of 
his  sons,  West  Australian  alone  achieved  a  great  reputation. 


IN-BREEDING — OUT-CROSSING.  47 

With  regard  to  him  also,  this  superiority  of  the  female  descent 
holds  good,  as  he  got,  besides  a  great  number  of  more  than  use- 
ful mares,  only  two  prominent  sons,  The  Wizard  and  Ruy  Bias, 
of  whom  the  former,  although  himself  a  good  racehorse,  scarcely 
left  any  traces  in  Germany,  the  country  of  his  adoption. 

Now  if  we  consider  the  question,  what  sort  of  crosses  in  the 
different  strains  of  blood  have  recommended  themselves  as  most 
desirable — although  within  the  thoroughbred  race  there  cannot, 
properly  speaking,  be  any  question  of  a  cross,  as  understood  in 
zoology,  because  the  whole  breed  is  more  or  less  related — we 
naturally  come  to  the  conclusion  that  the  breeder  is  involun- 
tarily forced  into  breeding  within  close  relationship  by  the  en- 
deavor to  adhere  to  the  families  of  established  reputation,  and 
within  them  to  use  for  his  purpose  none  but  their  most  prom- 
inent members.  In  the  commencement  of  the  race  we  notice 
numerous  cases  of  incest,  logically  accounted  for,  however,  by 
the  desire  to  mate  the  then  existing  and  not  too  numerous  indi- 
viduals of  tried  excellence,  and  thereby  perpetuate  that  quality. 
In  the  pedigree  of  Eclipse  even  occurs  a  glaring  instance  of 
incest,  the  grand-dam  of  Betty  Leedes,  who  was  the  great 
grand-dam  of  Eclipse,  having  been  got  by  Spanker  from  his 
own  dam.  The  more  the  breed  developed,  the  less  pressing 
grew  the  necessity  for  close  relationship,  but  in  the  days  of 
Eclipse,  bred  in  1764,  and  his  immediate  descendants,  the  need 
still  existed  to  a  great  extent,  for  by  the  general  stud  book  a 
score  of  horses  may  be  proved  to  have  been  got  by  sons  of 
Eclipse  from  daughters  of  the  same  horse,  but  this  alliance 
never  produced  anything  extraordinary.  Even  in  the  present 
century  many  cases  of  incestuous  breeding  have  occurred,  but 
very  few  of  them  have  proved  successful.  I  shall  have  to  make 
some  remarks  on  two  of  their  number  (Juliana,  bred  1810,  and 
Valentine,  bred  1832)  later  on. 

Opinions  as  to  whether  relationship  in  parents  is  advantage- 
ous, and,  if  so,  to  what  degree  and  where  it  begins  to  be  in- 
jurious, differ  very  much  even  in  our  own  days  in  England. 

The  thoroughbred  is,  with  regard  to  this  subtle  question, 
especially  adapted  as  a  field  for  study  and  experiment,  because 


48  NOTES   ON   BREEDING   RACEHORSES. 

the  uninterrupted  trials  of  the  produce  of  this  or  that  principle 
in  breeding  are  made  public,  and  their  results,  as  collected  in 
the  racing  statistics  of  one  hundred  and  seventy  years,  accessi- 
ble to  everybody.  The  inference  drawn  will,  however,  fre- 
quently prove  the  reverse  of  what  follows  from  the  same  in- 
vestigations, when  applied  to  the  untried  half-bred,  where  the 
analysis  of  the  calculation  is  based  on  the  personal  opinion  of 
the  investigator. 

If  we  take,  for  instance,  the  pedigree  of  Friponnier,  we  find 
that  he  is  the  produce  of  uncle  and  niece,  consequently  of  very 
close  in-breeding.  Friponnier,  although  the  fastest  horse  of  his 
day,  proved  himself  a  failure  as  a  sire  of  racehorses,  because  he 
wanted  the  individual  power  to  transfer  his  racing  qualities  to 
his  descendants.  He  is,  therefore,  quoted  as  a  warning  exam- 
ple of  too  close  in-breeding  in  thoroughbreds.  He  then  was 
sent  to  a  half-bred  stud  in  Germany,  and  there  has  unquestion- 
ably proved  a  great  success.  Writers  on  zoology,  unfamiliar 
with  the  thoroughbred  and  its  public  trials,  will  therefore  prob- 
ably quote  Friponnier  as  a  brilliant  example  of  that  very  same 
close  relationship  in  the  parents,  on  account  of  which  he  was  in 
the  first  instance  discarded. 

But,  before  we  enter  more  deeply  into  this  matter,  it  is  neces- 
sary to  come  to  a  clear  understanding  as  to  the  meaning,  with 
regard  to  the  thoroughbred,  of  the  terms :  in-breeding,  moderate 
relationship,  and  out-crossing.  If  they  are  not  clearly  defined, 
all  real  discussion  is  rendered  futile.  Stonehenge's  disquisitions 
on  the  subject  are  indistinct,  because  not  worked  out  on  a 
firmly  established  system.  If  he  instances  Stockwell  and  Rata- 
plan as  in-bred,  but  Partisan  and  Emilius  as  out-crossed,  he 
overlooks,  that  those  celebrated  brothers  are  doubly  and  trebly 
as  far  removed  from  their  common  ancestor  on  the  male  and 
female  side,  as  the  latter  two  from  theirs.  This  proportion  is 
by  no  means  altered  by  the  circumstance,  that  in  Stockwell  and 
Rataplan's  pedigree  Waxy  occurs  not  twice,  but  three  times ; 
for  even  then  they  have  only  -fa  Waxy  blood  in  their  veins, 
whereas  Partisan  has  -^  and  Emilius  i  +  TV  =  A  Highflyer 
blood. 


IN-BREEDING OUT-CROSSING.  49 

I  am  of  opinion,  that  a  horse  should  only  be  termed  in-bred, 
when  in  sum  total  less  than  four  degrees  lay  between  its  parents 
and  their  common  ancestor ;  in  other  words,  when  the  children 
or  grandchildren  of  a  stallion  or  a  mare  are  mated,  I  call  their 
produce  in-bred ;  but  this  term  does  not  apply  to  the  produce 
of  great  grandchildren  of  the  common  ancestor.  We  must 
not  forget  that  in  the  pedigrees  of  horses  the  word  brother  or 
sister  often  means  half-brother  or  half-sister,  and  that  here  the- 
definition  borrowed  from  the  human  family  connection  is.  not 
applicable. 

As  breeding  within  moderate  relationship  I  reckon  the  mating 
of  stallion  and  mare  that  are  removed  from  their  common  an- 
cestor four,  five,  or  six  degrees.  It  is  indifferent  whether  they 
are  on  both  sides  equidistant  from,  or  one  of  them  nearer  to  the 
male  or  female  progenitor  than  the  other. 

The  English  breeder  of  the  old  school  was  of  opinion,  that 
breeding  from  very  closely  related  parents,  even  if  possessed  of 
the  most  excellent  qualities,  as  a  rule,  led  to  disappointing 
results ;  in  isolated  cases,  however,  to  the  production  of  indi- 
vidual animals  qf  quite  extraordinary  capabilities ;  and  on  the 
whole,  I  incline  to  that  view  myself. 

More  recently  and  in  consideration  of  such  exceptional  in- 
stances, especially  since  Friponnier's  appearance,  the  mating  of 
very  nearly  connected  stallions  and  mares  has  frequently  been 
tried  in  England,  but  generally  with  the  old  result,  that  is, 
abundant  failures,  but  also  a  few  eminent  exceptions,  like 
Galopin  and  Petrarch. 

As  a  matter  of  course  follows  the  important  question  as  to 
the  individual  productive  power  of  such  in-bred  stallions.  The 
current  which  in  England  set  in  the  direction  of  in-breeding, 
naturally  caused  a  strong  counter-current,  in  its  turn  in  many 
cases  rejecting  for  breeding  purposes,  as  in-bred,  stallions 
that,  in  my  opinion,  come  not  within  the  meaning  of  the 
term. 

In  order  to  gain  a  clear  insight  into  the  matter,  let  us  classify 
the  stallions  renowned  on  the  turf  and  afterwards  used  for  stud 
purposes,  according  to  the  degree  of  relationship  existing  be- 

4 


50  NOTES   ON   BREEDING  RACEHORSES. 

tween  their  parents;  and  then  inquire  which  degree  has  fur- 
nished the  best  results  as  to  power  of  reproduction. 

I  believe  myself  to  be  tolerably  at  home  in  the  Racing  Cal- 
endar and  the  Stud  Book,  yet  it  is  possible  I  may  have  over- 
looked some  pertinent  instances.  If  so,  I  shall  be  glad  if  by 
the  following  compilations  others  interested  in  the  subject  be 
stimulated,  in  furtherance  of  the  good  cause  we  serve,  to  sup- 
plement or  to  refute  what  I  have  written. 

A  produce  of  brother  and  sister,  or  half-brother  and  half- 
sister  not  being  available  amongst  renowned  stallions,  I  shall 
begin  with  those  whose  parents  are  only  one  clear  degree  re- 
moved from  their  common  ancestor,  male  or  female.  Of  such 
I  have  been  able  to  find  but  four,  viz. : 

1.  Knight  of  St.  George in-bred  to  Sir  Hercules. 

2.  Crest "         Touchstone. 

3.  Friponnier Orlando. 

4.  The  Miner "         Birdcatcher. 

Two  degrees  removed  are  the  parents  of 

1.  Partisan in-bred  to  Highflyer. 

2.  Priam "  Whiskey. 

3.  Humphrey  Clinker "  Sir  Peter. 

4.  Election "  Herod. 

5.  The  Saddler "  Waxy. 

6.  Sleight  of  Hand  ] 

7.  The  Drone            LSSSr.}    •   •  Peruvian. 

8.  Van  Amburgh      J 

9.  Pericles* "  Highflyer. 

10.  Brutandorf "  Pot-8-os. 

11.  Blue  Gown "  Touchstone. 

12.  Galopin "  Voltaire. 

13.  Lowlander Pantaloon. 

14.  Petrarch "  Touchstone. 

Three  degrees  removed  are  the  parents  of 

1.  Orlando in-bred  to  Selim. 

2.  The  Flying  Dutchman      ....          "         Selim. 

3.  Emilius "         Highflyer. 

*  Pericles  has  4-16ths  each  of  Highflyer  and  Herod  blood. 


IN-BREEDING — OUT-CROSSING. 


51 


4.  Weatherbit in-bred  to  Orville. 

5.  Buccaneer Edmund  by  Orville. 

6.  Tramp "          Eclipse. 

7.  Blacklock "         Highflyer. 

8.  Epirus "         Sir  Peter. 

9.  Cotherstone "         Waxy  and  Penelope. 

10.  Chatham "         Waxy  and  Penelope. 

11.  Oulston ....    „         "    '     Cervantes. 

12.  Elthiron 

13.  Windhound  Own    v 

14.  Hobbie  Noble     brothers}     •    •    •  Peruvian. 

15.  The  Reiver 

16.  Argonaut      "          Sir  Hercules. 

17.  Macgregor "         Banter. 

18.  Knight  of  the  Garter "          Camel. 

19.  Pero  Gomez "         Lady  Moore  Carew. 

20.  Dalham* "          Touchstone. 

21.  Isonomy Birdcatcher. 

22.  Silvio " 

Four  degrees  removed  are  the  parents  of 

1.  Sweetmeat  f     .    .  on  both  sides  goes  back  to  Prunella. 

2.  The  Baron   ...  "  «  Waxy. 

3.  BayMiddleton    .  "  «  •    Sir  Peter. 

4-  Sultan «  Eclipse  and  Highflyer. 

5.  Pantaloon     ...  "  Eclipse  and  Highflyer. 

6.  Lanercost      ...  "  "  Gohanna. 

7.  Plenipotentiary  .  «  Sir  Peter.J 

8.  Melbourne   ...  "  Termagant. 

9.  Flatcatcher  {^^}      "  "  Waxy. 

10.  Wild  Dayrell  .    .  «  Selim. 

11.  Cambuscan  ...  "  «  Whalebone. 

12.  The  Palmer  1     Own    1  •  « 

13.  Kosicrucian    f*™****! 

14.  Trumpeter  \     .    .  "  goes  Selim. 


*  Dalham's  dam  (Gertrude)  also  is  three  times  removed  from  Touchstone,  so  that 
l-32d  of  the  same  blood  must  be  added. 

f  Sweetmeat's  pedigree  is  doubtful,  inasmuch  as  hjf  dam  Lollypop  is  put  down  to 
two  sires.  She  is,  however,  generally  believed  to  be,  not  by  Voltaire,  but  by  Starch. 

I  To  whose  sire,  Highflyer,  both  parents  of  Plenipotentiary,  Emilius  and  Harriet 
are  in-bred. 

\  His  sire,  Orlando,  already  being  in-bred  to  the  same  horse,  Trumpeter  has  five- 
thirty-seconds  Selim  blood. 


52 


NOTES   ON   BREEDING   RACEHORSES. 


15.  Marsyas    .    . 

16.  Economist    . 

17.  Sir  Hercules 

18.  Liverpool     . 

19.  Adventurer  . 

20.  Hermit     .    . 

21.  Przedswit 


on  both  sides  goes  back  to  Waxy. 

"  "  Eclipse  and  Herod. 

Eclipse. 

Eclipse. 

"  "  Orville. 

"  "  Camel. 


Fiv'e  degrees  removed  are  the  parents  of 
1.    Touchstone  ...  on  both  sides  goes  back  to  Eclipse. 


2.  Voltaire    .... 

3.  Voltigeur  1 

4.  Barnton     J  '   *    ' 

5.  Newminster     .    . 

6.  Van  Tromp     .    . 

7.  Defence    .... 

8.  Alarm 

9.  Ion 

10.  King  Tom    .   .    . 

11.  Saunterer     .    .    . 

12.  Paragone  .... 

13.  AndoverJ     .    .    . 

14.  Venison    .... 

15.  Velocipede  .   .   . 

16.  Pyrrhus  the  First 

17.  Harkaway    .    .    . 

18.  Cowl 

19.  Cossack     .... 

20.  Kingston  .... 

21.  Scottish  Chief .    . 

22.  Flibustier     .    .    . 

23.  Sterling    .... 

24.  Chamant  .... 

25.  Kobert  the  Devil 


g° 


Highflyer.* 

Hambletonian. 
f  Trumpator  and 
I  Beningbro'. 

Buzzard. 

Eclipse  and  Highflyer. 

Sir  Peter  and  Prunella. 

Sir  Peter. 

Waxy. 

Waxy  and  Penelope. 

Orville. 

Buzzard  and  Waxy. 

Eclipse. 

Pot-8-os  and  Highflyer. 

Buzzard. 

Pot-8-os. 

Whiskey. 

f  Sorcerer,  Stamford,  and 
\  Y.  Giantess. 

Sir  Peter. 

Orville. 

Tramp. 

Whalebone. 

Emilius. 

f  Touchstone  and 
I  Birdcatcher. 


*  To  whom  Voltaire's  sire,  Blacklock,  is  in-bred. 

t  Own  brothers  and  sons  of  the  foregoing.  The  third  brother,  Vortex,  was  too 
inferior  a  racehorse  to  be  mentioned  here. 

J  His  dam  being  in-bred  to  Waxy,  Andover  has  only  three-thirty-seconds  Buzzard 
blood,  but  four-thirty-seconds  Waxy  blood. 


IN-BKEEDING  —  OUT-CROSSING.  53 

Six  degrees  removed  are  the  parents  of 

1.  Irish  Birdcatcher  .  on  both  sides  goes  back  to  Eclipse. 

2.  West  Australian    .  "  "  Trumpator. 

3.  Stockwell  "I     Own    \ 

4.  Kataplan   /brothers}  Waxy  and  Penelope. 

5.  St.  Albans  1      Own    ) 

6.  Whalebone. 


7.  Macaroni    ....  Sir  Peter. 

8.  The  Duke  ....  "  Whalebone* 

9.  LordLyon     ...  "  Whalebone. 

10.  Blair  Athol  )      Own  \ 

11.  *0  Whalebone. 


12.  Favonius    ....  "  "  Whisker. 

13.  Kustic     .....  "  Whalebone. 

14.  Lambton     ....  "  "  Whiskey. 

15.  Ely      ......  "  Sorcerer. 

16.  Wenlock     ....  "  "  Whalebone. 

17.  Kisber    .....  "  "  Sultan. 

18.  Lollypop    ....  "  Whalebone. 

The  stallions  of  high  importance  to  the  breed,  left  after 
the  enumeration  of  the  foregoing  six  categories,  that  is,  whose 
parents  are  distant  from  their  common  ancestor  more  than 
six  degrees,  are,  on  closer  inspection,  comparatively  few  in 
number,  and  of  those  remaining  many,  as,  for  instance,  Lord 
Clifden,  Teddington,  See  Saw,  George  Frederick,  Albert  Victor, 
etc.,  cannot,  in  the  descent  of  their  parents,  show  more  than 
seven  clear  removes.  It  follows,  therefore,  that  nearly  all  stal- 
lions of  eminence  in  England,  which  in  this  case  means  the 
whole  of  Europe,  are  the  results  of  breeding  within  more  or 
less  distant  relationship.  The  aim  of  our  investigations  will 
thus  be  less  to  ascertain  whether  relationship  in  breeding  be  at 
all  desirable,  than  to  define  the  limits  within  which  it  operates 
advantageously. 

We  shall  be  materially  assisted  in  the  attainment  of  our 
purpose  by  subjecting,  in  their  several  categories,  the  stal- 
lions named  to  an  impartial  critic,  although  I  cannot  disguise 
from  myself  the  difficulty  of  doing  so  without  meeting  with 
opposition  to  my  estimation  of  their  relative  worth. 

*  To  whom  The  Duke's  dam  also  on  both  sides  traces  back. 


54  NOTES  ON   BREEDING   RACEHORSES. 

Of  the  four  stallions  in  the  first  category,  we  know  that 
Friponnier  at  the  stud  did  not  realize  the  expectations  enter- 
tained of  him.  The  St.  Leger  winner,  Knight  of  St.  George's 
best  performance  as  a  sire  was  the  getting  of  Knight  of  St. 
Patrick  with  a  mare  like  Pocahontas,  whose  produce  with 
many  other  stallions  with  whom  she  was  mated  proved  to  be 
superior  to  him.  Knight  of  St.  George  was  subsequently  sold 
to  America,  where  he  was  not  more  fortunate  than  at  home. 
Orest,  in  consequence  of  an  accident,  never  trod  the  turf;  his 
class  as  a  racehorse,  therefore,  cannot  be  determined.  He  got, 
however,  a  number  of  horses  of  a  certain  amount  of  medium 
racing  form,  and  may,  in  consideration  thereof,  be  classed  as 
a  successful  sire.  The  Miner,  Blair  Athol's  whilom  conqueror 
at  York,  turned  out  rather  insignificant  at  the  stud,  his  pater- 
nity to  Controversy  being  doubtful. 

The  second  category  is  composed  of  fourteen  stallions,  amongst 
whom  Partisan,  as  sire  of  Gladiator, Venison,  and  Glaucus,  stands 
forth  in  such  bold  relief,  that  his  value  as  a  progenitor  is  above 
question. 

Priam,  even  if  he  left  no  immediate  male  descendant  of  em- 
inence, as  sire  of  Crucifix  and  such  useful  matrons  as  Miss 
Letty,  Annette,  Dolphin,  etc.,  deserves  to  be  rated  as  a  success- 
ful, stallion. 

Humphrey  Clinker's  claims  to  recognition  principally  rest  on 
his  paternity  to  Melbourne,  but  in  consideration  of  the  latter's 
worth,  his  merits  must  be  deemed  sufficient. 

The  Saddler  and  Brutandorf  are  of  about  equal  value ;  the 
former's  pretensions  are,  in  a  measure,  justified  by  The  Provost, 
while  the  latter's  are  based  on  Physician,  whose  sons,  The  Cure, 
and  especially  Blackdrop,  merited  the  esteem  in  which  they 
were  held ;  the  latter  in  Germany. 

Election  can  scarcely  be  said  to  rank  very  high  as  a  progen- 
itor, nor  has  Sleight  of  Hand  sired  any  racehorse  of  the  first 
class.  His  paternity  to  several  good  mares,  like  Lady  Eliza- 
beth (dam  of  Stolen  Moments),  Legerdemain  (dam  of  Adonis 
and  Wimbledon)  alone,  does  not  entitle  him  to  be  ranked 
amongst  the  successful  sires,  and  still  less  do  his  two  full 


IN-BREEDING — OUT-CROSSING.  55 

brothers,  The  Drone  and  Van  Amburgh,  deserve  a  place  in 
that  select  company. 

Pericles'  solitary  claim  to  consideration  consists  in  having 
got  Harriet  (Plenipotentiary's  dam),  but  that  is  not  sufficient. 

Blue  Gown's  career  as  a  sire  cannot  be  said  quite  finished, 
since,  although  himself  at  the  bottom  of  the  sea,  his  last  direct 
descendants  have  not  yet  appeared  on  the  turf.  Of  his  sons, 
Vitus  and  Blue  Rock,  good  performers  in  Germany,  should  be 
mentioned  ;  on  the  whole,  however,  I  believe,  by  discarding  him 
from  the  list  of  shining  lights  at  the  stud,  I  express  the  opinion 
of  English  breeders  and  owners  of  racehorses. 

Galopin,  Lowlander,  and  Petrarch  are  still  on  their  trial ;  I 
shall  follow  their  stud  career,  as  being  of  paramount  interest  with 
regard  to  the  question  of  in-breeding,  with  the  greatest  attention. 

The  third  category  contains  twenty-two  stallions,  of  whom 
Orlando,  The  Flying  Dutchman,  Emilius,  Weatherbit,  Buc- 
caneer, Blacklock,  and  Tramp,  may  be  said  to  be  of  indis- 
putable pre-eminence. 

Epirus,  although  supported  by  Ephesus  and  the  Derby  win- 
ner Pyrrhus  the  First  only,  will,  on  their  account,  pass  muster ; 
likewise  Pero  Gomez,  who,  as  sire  of  Peregrine,  winner  of  the 
Two  Thousand  Guineas,  and  a  great  number  of  other  useful 
horses,  deserves  credit. 

Knight  of  the  Garter,  albeit  for  the  present  not  largely  pat- 
ronized, must,  as  the  sire  of  Przedswit  and  many  very  service- 
able horses,  be  reckoned  as  a  successful  stallion. 

Of  the  four,  although  not  very  famous  brothers :  Windhound, 
Elthiron,  Hobbie  Noble,  and  The  Reiver,  the  first,  as  the  prob- 
able father  of  the  Derby  winner  Thormanby,  is  entitled  to  a 
certain  amount  of  recognition ;  the  second  has  made  himself  in 
France,  if  not  celebrated,  at  least  useful ;  the  last  two,  however, 
are  decided  failures. 

Cotherstone,  Chatham,  Oulston,  and  Argonaut  hay«  not  at- 
tained eminence  at  the  stud,  which  is  the  more  surprising  with 
regard  to  Cotherstone,  the  winner  of  the  Two  Thousand  Guineas 
and  the  Derby  in  1843,  as  he  was  one  of  the  most  successful 
racehorses  that  ever  trod  the  turf. 


56  NOTES   ON   BREEDING   RACEHORSES. 

Macgregor  appears  to  be  unable  to  produce  a  horse  of  note. 

Dalham,  Isonomy,  and  Silvio  are  still  in  the  commencement 
of  their  stud  career ;  Isonomy,  however,  possessed  such  excep- 
tional merit  as  a  racehorse,  that  of  his  future  the  highest  ex- 
pectations seem  justified. 

The  fourth  category  embraces  twenty-one  stallions,  to  whom 
no  exception  can  be  taken  on  the  score  of  shortcomings  at  the 
stud,  though  perhaps  Plenipotentiary's  name  may  have  a  better 
sound  than  in  reality  it  deserves. 

Economist's  chances  were  but  few,  yet  as  Harkaway's  sire  he 
has  just  claims  to  our  respect. 

Lanercost  (sire  of  Van  Tromp)  and  Flatcatcher  have  pro- 
duced a  great  number  of  good  mares ;  to  the  others  no  ob- 
jections will,  presumably,  be  raised ;  their  names  speak  for 
themselves. 

Przedswit  alone  has  as  yet  had  no  opportunity  to  prove  him- 
self in  his  progeny.  It  may  be  urged  against  him,  that  he  is 
the  only  horse  of  note  his  dam  ever  produced,  yet  his  descent 
on  both  sides  from  that  inexhaustible  source  of  excellence, 
Marpessa,  through  two  such  brilliant  channels  as  Pocahontas 
and  Boarding  School  Miss,  should  justify  great  expectations. 

In  the  fifth  category  there  are  twenty-five  stallions,  of  whom 
Chamant  and  Robert  the  Devil  are  too  young  at  the  stud  to  be 
fairly  judged.  Of  the  other  twenty-three  I  can  point  to  Cossack 
and  Andover  alone  as  decided  failures,  even  if  the  latter  pro- 
duced some  useful  animals  like  Cramon.  It  did  not,  however, 
require  much  individual  power  on  the  part  of  the  stallion,  when 
mated  with  a  mare  like  Haricot.  Nor  has  Barn  ton,  although 
the  sire  of  Fandango  and  Ben  Webster,  on  the  whole,  been  of 
much  use  at  the  stud,  for  which  reason  I  hesitate  to  place  him 
on  the  list  of  successful  sires. 

In  England,  Van  Tromp  has  not  made  for  himself  a  great 
name,  he  has,  however,  done  better  in  Russia. 

Venison  has  produced  Alarm  and  Kingston.  Paragone  is 
difficult  to  classify,  but  his  daughter,  Paradigm  (dam  of  Lord 
Lyon  and  Achievement),  and  the  success  he  had  in  Germany, 
secure  him  an  honorable  place. 


IN-BREEDING — OUT-CROSSING. 


57 


Defence,  Pyrrhus  the  First,  and  Cowl  have  made  their  mark 
by  producing  good  brood  mares,  and  Alarm,  though  not  having 
sired  any  very  prominent  horses,  got  many  useful  animals.  The 
rest,  viz.,  Touchstone,  Melbourne,  Voltaire,  Voltigeur,  Ion,  Saun- 
terer,  Newminster,  Velocipede,  Harkaway,  Kingston,  Scottish 
Chief,  Flibustier,  and  Sterling,  are  above  discussion. 

The  sixth  and  last  category  comprises  eighteen  stallions,  of 
whom  Kisber  and  Lollypop  have  been  too  recently  trans- 
ferred to  the  stud  to  allow  of  their  merits  as  stallions  being 
considered. 

The  reputations  of  The  Duke  (sire  of  Bertram,  and  conse- 
quently grandsire  of  Robert  the  Devil),  Lord  Lyon,  Favonius, 
and  Wenlock,  may  not  be  sufficiently  established,  yet  should 
I  let  three  of  their  number  pass  as  successful. 

Breadalbane  gets  handsome  horses ;  his  stock,  however,  with 
few  exceptions,  suffer  from  too  great  an  excitability  of  temper 
to  bear  severe  training.  To  produce  racehorses  I  should,  there- 
fore, not  rank  him  amongst  the  sires  with  incontestable  claims 
to  recognition. 

Ely  is  a  dead  failure  at  the  stud ;  the  rest,  viz.,  Birdcatcher, 
West  Australian,  Stockwell,  Rataplan,  Savernake,  St.  Albans, 
Macaroni,  Blair  Athol,  and  Lambton,  must  be  accepted  as  of 
undoubted  excellence,  a  certificate  of  merit  I  should  like  to 
extend  to  Rustic,  in  consideration  of  the  manner  in  which  he 
has  availed  himself  of  the  few  chances  offered  him. 

By  summing  up  the  foregoing  remarks  in  shape  of  a  com- 
parative table  of  the  successful  stallions  in  their  several  cate- 
gories, we  arrive  at  the  following  result : 


Category. 

sl" 

3 

00 

Too  Young 
the  Stud. 

With  parent 
<     '     « 
t          tt 
i          tt 
(          ti 
t          tt 

s  one  degree  removed 

4 
14 
22 
21 
25 
18 

1  (?) 

»<» 

20 
13 

3 
3 
1 
2 
2 

two  degrees       "          

three     "            " 

four      "            "          

five       "            " 

six        "            «          .    . 

58  NOTES   ON   BREEDING   RACEHORSES. 

The  proportion,  accordingly,  appears  most  favorable  in  the 
fourth,  and,  next  to  it,  about  equal  in  the  fifth  and  sixth  cate- 
gories ;  on  the  whole,  therefore,  in  those  three,  embracing  the 
produces  of  moderate  relationship ;  and  thence,  in  the  direction 
of  in-breeding,  gradually  but  strikingly  lessening.  It  will,  be- 
sides, be  well  to  bear  in  mind  that  in  the  third  category  of  the 
twelve  stallions  classed  as  successful,  several,  like  Elthiron  and 
Windhound,  are  rather  doubtful. 

From  all  this  it  would  seem  advisable  to  place  most  reliance 
on  those  stallions  who,  cceteris  paribus,  are  descended  from  pa- 
rents of  moderate  relationship ;  at  the  same  time  to  be  mindful, 
however,  whether  in  former  generations  of  their  pedigree  the 
same  strains  of  blood  have  already  met,  in  which  case  the  in- 
breeding would  thereby  be  increased.  We  thus  arrive  at  the 
conclusion,  that  stallions  of  that  degree  of  affinity  in  their 
parents,  perhaps  with  the  addition  of  a  category  with  seven 
clear  removes,  are  preferable  to  those  who  are  in-bred  or  out- 
crossed.  I,  at  least,  should  be  at  a  loss  to  furnish  from  all  the 
remaining  stallions  in  the  stud  book,  so  stately  a  list  as  is  com- 
prised in  the  fourth,  fifth,  and  sixth  categories.  That  the  de- 
gree of  relationship  alone  is  insufficient,  when  kindred  strains 
of  blood  are  united  for  the  purpose  of  begetting  high  individual 
potency,  is  self-evident :  that  end  can  only  be  attained  by  using 
within  the  chosen  families  their  most  prominent  members. 

Almost  insurmountable  difficulties  would  be  encountered  in 
the  attempt  to  compile  similar  tables  for  mares ;  their  number 
is  too  great  to  admit  of  the  possibility  of  arriving  at  anything 
like  reliable  comparative  figures.  We  must,  therefore,  confine 
ourselves  to  a  review  of  the  celebrated  matrons  and  see,  whether 
among  them  exist  many  cases  of  in-breeding,  or  whether  in  their 
sex  also  the  value  for  stud  purposes  appears  impaired  by  too 
close  a  relationship  of  their  parents. 

Of  mares  that  owe  their  existence  to  incestuous  breeding,  I 
could  find  but  two  that  have  proved  at  all  successful  at  the 
stud,  that  is  to  say,  have  bred  winners  of  big  races,  viz. : 

1.  Juliana,  dam  of  the  St.  Leger  winner  Matilda,  bred  1810, 


IK-BREEDING — OUT-CROSSING.  59 

by  Gohanna  from  Platina,  both  being  by  Mercury, 
son  of  Eclipse.  What  renders  this  case  still  more  re- 
markable is,  that  both  parents  of  Juliana  were  out 
of  Herod  mares,  consequently  nearly  own  brother  and 
sister. 

2.  Valentine,  dam  of  the  Doncaster  Cup  winner  War  Eagle, 
bred  1832,  by  Voltaire  with  his  half  sister  Fisher  Lass, 
both  being  out  of  the  same  mare,  bred  1816,  by  Phan- 
tom out  of  an  Overton  mare. 

Of  celebrated  mares,  whose  parents  were  altogether  not  more 
than  once  removed  from  their  common  ancestor,  we  notice  six : 

1.  Miss  Letty,  daughter  of  Priam,  who  is  strongly  in-bred 

to  Whiskey;  herself  in-bred  to  Orville  (dam  of 
Weatherbit). 

2.  Knowsley's  and  General  Peel's  dam,  in-bred  to  Camel. 

3.  Palma,  in-bred  to  Orville  (dam  of  Adventurer). 

4.  The  Jewel,  in-bred  to  Birdcatcher  (dam  of  Przedswit). 

5.  Mandragora,  in-bred  to  Birdcatcher  (dam  of  Mandrake, 

Agility,  Apology,  etc.). 

6.  Mineral,  own  sister  to  the  foregoing  (dam  of  Wenlock, 

Schwindler,  Kisber). 

The  extraordinary  success  at  the  stud  of  Mandragora  and 
Mineral  is  the  more  noteworthy,  as  their  own  brother,  The 
Miner,  although  himself  a  much  better  racehorse,  has  been  of 
little  use  as  a  sire.  t 

With  parents,  twice  removed  from  their  common  ancestor,  we 
find  a  greater  number  of  mares  of  tried  excellence,  especially : 

1.  Marpessa,  in-bred  to  Whiskey  (dam  of  Pocahontas,  Board- 

ing School  Miss,  and  Jeremy  Diddler). 

2.  Idalia,  in-bred  to  Highflyer  (dam  of  Pantaloon). 

3.  Necklace,  in-bred  to  Emilius  (dam  of  Macgregor). 

4.  Isoline,  in-bred  to  Sir  Hercules  (dam  of  Isola  Bella,  Ison- 

omy's  dam,  St.  Christophe,  and  Braconnier). 


60  NOTES   ON   BREEDING   RACEHORSES. 

5.  The  winner  of  the  Oaks,  Feu  de  Joie,  in-bred  to  Touch- 

stone (dam  of  Allumette,  Hallate,  etc.). 

6.  Veilchen,  in-bred   to  Touchstone  (dam   of  Vergissmein- 

nicht,   dam   of  Wer   Weiss,  Wunderhorn,   Walhalla, 
R  F.  Walpurgis). 

7.  Bay  Celia,  in-bred  to  Camel  (dam  of  The  Earl  and  The 

Duke). 

8.  Elphine,  in-bred   to  Beningbro'  (dam  of  Lambton  and 

Warlock). 

9.  Finesse,  in-bred  to  Highflyer  (dam  of  Decoy). 

10.  Decoy,  in-bred  to  Sir  Peter  (dam  of  The  Drone,  Sleight 

of  Hand,  Van  Amburgh,  Legerdemain,  Phryne,  Flat- 
catcher). 

11.  Legerdemain,  in-bred  to  Peruvian  (dam  of  Toxophilite). 

The  latter  instance  is  particularly  remarkable,  as  it  seems 
to  corroborate  the  evidence  of  Mandragora,  Mineral,  and  The 
Miner  that  in-breeding  in  mares  does  not  influence  individual 
potency  in  an  equally  unfavorable  degree  as  in  stallions. 

Legerdemain  is  own  sister  to  Sleight  of  Hand,  The  Drone, 
and  Van  Amburgh,  who  proved  themselves  inferior  or  useless 
at  the  stud ;  she  herself,  on  the  contrary,  produced  a  horse  of 
the  first  class,  like  Toxophilite,  and  that,  too,  under  very  ad- 
verse circumstances.  In  order  to  prevent  the  frequent  re-occur- 
rence of  horsing,  she  was  covered,  when  not  more  than  three 
years  of  age,  by  Ion,  won  in  the  month  of  October  of  the  same 
year  (1849)  the  Cesarewitch,  slipped  her  foal  the  day  after,  and 
then  remained  two  years  longer  in  training — all  of  which  cer- 
tainly did  not  enhance  her  usefulness  at  t*he  stud. 

A  young  mare  with  but  two  clear  removes  in-bred,  who 
proved  herself  a  pearl  of  the  first  water  on  the  turf,  and  was 
in  1881  winner  of  the  One  Thousand  Guineas  and  Oaks: 

12.  Thebais,  in-bred  to  Touchstone. 

Three  clear  removes  in  the  descent  from  their  common  ances- 
tor show  among  others  the  parents  of: 


IN-BREEDING — OUT-CROSSING.  61 

1.  Vulture,  in-bred  to  Buzzard  (dam  of  Orlando). 

2.  Peri,  in-bred  to  Eclipse  (dam  of  Sir  Hercules). 

3.  Seclusion,  in-bred  to  Sultan  (dam  of  the  Derby  winner 

Hermit). 

4.  Languish,  in-bred  to  Sir  Peter  (dam  of  the  winner  of  the 

Oaks,  Ghuznee). 

5.  GruySre,  in-bred  to  Waxy  and  Penelope  (dam  of  Par- 

mesan). 

6.  Mowerina,  in-bred  to   Waxy,  own  sister  to  Cotherstone 

(and  dam  of  West  Australian,  Go-ahead,  Old  Orange 
Girl,  Baragah,  and  Westwick). 

A  similar  case  of  in-breeding  occurs  here,  as  in  Mandragora, 
Mineral,  and  Legerdemain,  compared  to  The  Miner,  Sleight  of 
Hand,  The  Drone,  and  Van  Amburgh.  Whereas  Cotherstone, 
a  quite  exceptional  horse  on  the  turf,  proves  a  failure  at  the 
stud,  his  own  sister,  Mowerina,  becomes  one  of  the  most  cele- 
brated matrons  in  the  whole  Stud  Book.  Queen  Mary  might  be 
mentioned  here  as  in-bred  to  Whalebone,  but  as  it  is  not  beyond 
all  doubt  whether  Moses  is  by  Whalebone  or  Seymour,  we  had 
better  leave  her  out. 

With  regard  to  future  breeding  results,  it  may  be  of  interest 
to  state  that  that  wonder  of  the  world, 

7.  Kincsem,  in-bred  to  Slane,  also  belongs  to  this  category  of 

in-bred  parents,  as  well  as 

8.  Bal  Gal,  in-bred  to  Touchstone. 

Of  the  numerous  celebrated  matrons,  whose  parents  show  four 
clear  removes  from  their  common  ancestor,  I  may  mention : 

1.  Martha  Lynn,  on  both  sides  traces  back  to  Sir  Peter  (dam 

of  the  Derby  winner  1850,  Voltigeur,  Vortex,  Eulogy, 
Barnton,  Maid  of  Hart,  Vivandiere). 

2.  Emma,  goes  back  to  Eclipse  (dam  of  Mundig,  winner  of 

the  Derby  1835;  Cotherstone,  winner  of  the  Two  Thou- 


62  NOTES   ON   BREEDING   RACEHORSES. 

sand  Guineas  and  the  Derby  1843;  Mowerina,  Lady  of 
Silverkeld  Well,  etc.). 

3.  Snowdrop,  goes  back  to  Beningbro'  (dam  of  Gemma  di 

Vergy). 

4.  Canezou,  goes  back  to  Sorcerer  (dam  of  Fazzoletto,  Bas- 

quine,  La  Bossue,  dam  of  Boiard). 

5.  Ghuznee,  daughter  of  Languish,  in-bred  to  the  same  Sir 

Peter,  goes  back  to  Sir  Peter  (dam  of  Meeanee,  Storm, 
Scalade,  etc.). 

6.  Alice  Hawthorn,  goes  back  to  Beningbro'  (dam  of  Thor- 

manby,  winner  of  the  Derby  1860 ;  Oulston,  Terrona, 
Findon,  Lady  Hawthorn,  Sweet  Hawthorn). 

7.  Phryne,  goes  back  to  Waxy.    She  produced  to  Pantaloon  : 

Elthiron,  Windhound,  Hobbie  Noble,  and  The  Eeiver ; 
to  Melbourne,  Rambling  Katie  and  Blanche  of  Middle- 
bie ;  and  to  the  Flying  Dutchman :  Katherine  Logic. 

About  the  breeding  combinations  in  respect  to  Phryne  vol- 
umes might  be  written.  We  have  seen,  that  of  the  mares  show- 
ing in  the  descent  of  their  parents  but  two  removes  from  the 
common  ancestor,  Finesse,  her  daughter  Decoy  and  grand- 
daughter Legerdemain,  are  in  that  strong  degree  in-bred  to 
the  three  sires  Highflyer,  Sir  Peter,  and  Peruvian,  or  grand- 
father, father  and  son  ;  nevertheless,  Legerdemain,  the  offspring 
of  threefold  in-breeding,  when  mated  with  a  stallion  of  a  quite 
different  strain  of  blood,  breeds  a  horse  of  the  first  class,  like 
Toxophilite;  and  her  dam  Decoy,  a  produce  of  twofold  in- 
breeding, with  Pantaloon  (from  herself  only  twice  removed), 
four  such  good  animals  as  Sleight  of  Hand,  The  Drone,  Van 
Amburgh,  and  Legerdemain.  Fortunately,  for  a  comparison, 
Decoy  was  also  mated  with  Touchstone,  with  whom  she  stands 
(four  degrees  removed  from  Waxy)  in  moderate  relationship, 
and,  behold,  produced  Flatcatcher,  winner  of  the  Two  Thou- 
sand Guineas  and  sire  of  numerous  excellent  brood  mares,  and 
Phryne,  one  of  the  most  valuable  pearls  of  the  whole  Stud  Book. 
Decoy  must  assuredly  have  been  a  mare  of  enormous  individual 
potency,  to  be  able  to  produce  six  animals  of  the  quality,  of  one 


IN-BREEDING — OUT-CROSSING.  63 

description  or  another,  of  The  Drone,  Sleight  of  Hand,  Van 
Amburgh,  Legerdemain,  Flatcatcher,  and  Phryne,  but  no  doubt 
can  be  entertained  as  to  the  incomparably  higher  value  of  the 
two  last,  produced  within  moderate  relationship,  than  of  the 
other  four,  the  offsprings  of  close  in-breeding. 

All  these  investigations  and  comparisons  seem  to  point,  I 
should  say,  to  the  fact  that  in-breeding  in  mares,  even  if  once 
or  twice  repeated,  need  not  render  us  absolutely  distrustful  as 
to  their  value  at  the  stud;  that,  however,  on  the  whole,  the 
mating  of  the  best  individuals  within  the  chosen  families,  mod- 
erately related,  is  preferable  for  the  production  of  brood  mares 
as  well  as  stallions,  because  such  mating  within  the  same  strains 
of  blood  may,  as  occasion  requires,  be  repeated  without  danger, 
as  no  apprehension  of  thereby  weakening  the  constitution  need 
be  entertained. 

It  is  evident,  however,  that  the  observance  of  this  principle, 
if  continued  ad  infinitum,  also  is  not  without  danger  to  the 
lasting  prosperity  of  the  breed,  for  the  more  frequently  the 
mating  of  animals,  standing  to  one  another  in  even  a  mod- 
erate degree  of  kin  only,  is  resorted  to,  the  more  will  gradually 
become  the  in-breeding  in  the  whole  species  of  thoroughbreds, 
necessitating,  at  perhaps  a  not  far  distant  period,  the  infusion 
of  new  blood  by  occasionally  importing  into  England  sires  of 
pre-eminence  from  other  countries. 

Experience  points  to  America  as  the  source  from  which  to 
draw  in  future  the  regenerating  fluid  ;  for  although  the  Amer- 
ican thoroughbred  takes  its  origin  from  England,  and  is  still, 
more  or  less,  related  to  its  English  prototype,  the  exterior  ap- 
pearance and  the  more  recently  shown  superiority  of  American 
horses  lead  to  the  conclusion  that  the  evidently  favorable  cli- 
mate and  the,  to  a  great  extent,  virgin  soil  of  America — in 
every  respect  different  from  ours — gradually  restore  the  whole 
nature  of  the  horse  to  its  pristine  vigor,  and  make  the  American 
race  appear  eminently  qualified  to  exercise  an  invigorating  in- 
fluence on  the  constitution  of  the  thoroughbred  in  the  mother 
country,  enfeebled,  perhaps,  by  oft  repeated  in-breeding. 


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